Belarus hopes the terms of export to the European Union will improve, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky as he met with Poland Vice Premier, Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak on 14 January.

“We hope that the European Union will make a move towards Belarusian export in 2010,” said the Premier.

While the European Union’s overall customs tariffs average close to 5%, for Belarusian export they are as large as 17-80%, remarked Sergei Sidorsky. These tariffs are imposed on trucks, special vehicles and high-tech products. According to the Belarusian head of government, these aspects were discussed in a private meeting with Waldemar Pawlak on 14 January.

The Prime Minister reminded that in 2008-2009 Belarus and Poland had to regulate the operation of Polish farmers on the Belarusian market and the export of Belarusian agricultural products to Europe. Thus, the duty on Belarusian meat exports stands at 90%. Apart from that, Belarus is the only country on which textile exports the European Union puts quotas.

“I see it not only as a certain barrier in the way of free exports but also as a barrier for attracting investments to Belarus,” said Sergei Sidorsky. All the things necessitate regular meetings for discussing business promotion of the two countries.

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