WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG71/8 
12 March 2004  
 
(04-1103) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
   
CUSTOMS UNION BETWEEN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, 
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN AND TAJIKISTAN 
 
Questions and Replies
 
 
 The following communication, dated 5 February 2004, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic. 
 
 This document reproduces the questions addressed  to the Kyrgyz Republic and the responses 
submitted.  The questions and replies set out below are organized in accordance with document 
WT/REG71/4/Rev.1. 
_______________ 
 
 
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT 
3. Scope 
 
1. In addition to the tariff differential and/ or enhanced services commitments created by 
the elimination of duties in the context of th e FTA, does the agreement have other provisions 
that affect the comparative economic market access opportunity of countries that are not 
parties to the agreement? 
 In addition to the tariff differential and/or  enhanced services commitments created by the 
elimination of duties in the context of the FTA, Agreement on Customs Union have no other 
provisions.   
4. Trade Data 
 2. Please provide the volume of imports and of export among the Customs Union partners 
in the last three years (e.g. 2000-2002), in  agriculture and in non-agricultural goods. 
See Annex. 
 
II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
3. Please list and briefly describe the provision s of any additional protocols developed 
within the Customs Union Framework. 
 The following Protocols exist within the Customs Union framework: 
 
(a) The Protocol on the Uniform Procedure of Application of Technical, Medical, 
Pharmaceutical, Sanitary, Veterinary, Ph ytosanitary, and Ecological Standards, 
Norms, Rules, and Requirements with r espect to Goods, imported to the member-
countries of the Customs Union Agreements of January 28, 1999. The given Protocol 
was developed with a view to unify the procedure of application of technical, WT/REG71/8 
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medical, pharmaceutical, sanitary, veteri nary, phytosanitary, and ecological 
standards, norms, rules, and requirements in  import of goods. The Protocol is one of 
the conditions of gradual transition to the common customs territory. The Protocol consists of 6 appendixes: 
(1) List of ministries and agencies authorized to establish and perform control 
over the application of technical, medical, pharmaceutical, sanitary, 
veterinary, phytosanitary, and ecological standards, norms, rules, and requirements with respect to goods, imported to the member-countries of 
Agreements on Customs Union. 
(2) General requirements to the pr ocedure and rules of conduction of 
certification of goods. 
(3) Regulation on the procedure of im port to the customs territories of the 
Customs Union member-countries of goods subject to mandatory certification. 
(4) Regulation on the procedure of im port to the customs territories of the 
Customs Union member-countries of goods subject to sanitary, veterinary 
and phytosanitary control (including tentative list of goods subject to 
mandatory sanitary, veterinary, and phytosanitary control). 
(5) Regulation on the procedure of im port to the customs territories of the 
Customs Union member-countries and e xport from the customs territories of 
the Customs Union member-countries of ozone-depleting substances and 
goods containing them (including 3 Lists: List A – List of ozone-depleting 
substances, import and export of which subject to state regulating; List of goods import and export of which from the Customs Union member-countries subject to state regulating if they contain ozone-depleting substances listed in List A; List of  states and international organizations 
signatories to Montreal Protocol of 1987 on Substances that Deplete the 
Ozone Layer (as of June 17, 1998). 
(6) Regulation on the uniform procedure of state regulating of trans-border 
transportation of hazardous wastes. 
(b) The Protocol on Customs Control over G oods and Road Vehicles moved between 
customs bodies of the Customs Union me mber-countries was signed by heads of 
governments of the Customs Union member-countries on February 17, 2000. The 
Protocol was developed with a view to ensure the efficient customs control over 
goods moved under customs control between  the customs bodies of the Customs 
Union countries and aimed at simplificati on of transportation of goods within the 
Customs Union member-countries by unification of customs rules.  
(c) The Protocol on Simplified Procedure of Customs Formalities of Goods not intended 
for industrial and other commercial ac tivities and currencies moved by natural 
persons through the customs borders of the Customs Union member-countries of 
January 22, 1998. The Protocol establishes the features of performing control and customs formalities of goods not intended fo r industrial and commercial activities, 
and currencies moved through the customs borders of the Customs Union member-
countries by natural persons permanently r esiding in these countries. Currencies and 
goods are moved through the customs borders of the Customs Union member-countries in accordance with the national legislation of each of the countries.   WT/REG71/8 
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1. Import Restrictions 
1.1 Duties and charges & 
1.2 Quantitative restrictions  
4. Are there any items or sectors where the full elimination of duties and charges among 
the members of the Customs Union has not been achieved? If so, what is it? 
 At present the Kyrgyz Republic does not apply import duties and other restricting provisions 
in trade in all goods to and from member -countries of the given five agreements. 
 According to paragraph 10 of the Protocol of  April 2, 1999 (WT/REG82/1, p. 19) member-
countries of the CIS Agreement on Formation of Free Trade Area took the decision not to apply new 
restrictions in their mutual trade.  
  The Kyrgyz Republic believes that the trade po licies of other contracting parties shall be 
considered at the relevant meetings  of the Working Groups on Accession. 
 
1.3 Common external tariff 
 
5. Is there a limit on the products that will be  excluded from the common external tariff? 
 Currently, there is no such limit. 
 
6. Please describe in detail the status of harmonization of tariffs between each of the 
countries and Russia. 
 Kyrgyzstan has the information about the ha rmonization of tariffs within EAEC framework. 
  The base list of the Common Customs Tariff, which coincides with the rates of import 
customs duties of the Eurasian Economic Community (Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, 
and Russian Federation), consists of 97 commodity  groups. These commodity groups contain 6285 
commodity items.   The level of unification of the EAEC Common Customs Tariff constitutes about 54% of TN 
EEA/HS of EAEC (Trade Nomenclature of Extern al Economic Activity – Harmonized System). The 
number of non-coincident rates of import customs duties in three states amounted to 5150 commodity 
items or 46% of TN EEA/HS of EAEC. 
  The harmonization of the Customs Tariff of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Base List of Common Customs Tariff in 2003 was achieved in 41 commodity groups or 2058 commodity items that is 32.8%. The level of coincidence increased by 22.8% compared with 2002. 
 
 The level of coincidence of the Customs Ta riff of the Kyrgyz Republic with the Customs 
Tariff of the Russian Federation in 2003 amounts to 2519 commodity items or 22.5%. The total difference equals 6917 commodity items, and 5% di fference is kept in 663 commodity items, the 
reserve of approximation is 5.9%. 
 
5. Safeguards   
7. The background information (document WT/REG71/4/Rev.1) indicates that the 
Safeguard Protocol applies until the common cust oms territory is formed. What happens then? 
 Currently, within the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) the activity to create a 
mechanism to safeguard domestic markets of the EAEC member-countries is performed under WT/REG71/8 
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conditions of non-application of special safegua rd, anti-dumping, and countervailing measures in 
mutual trade. The given mechanism for safeguarding the domestic markets of EAEC member-countries will also operate after the form ation of the common customs territory.  
 
9. Other 
 
8. Do the members of the Customs Union mainta in customs posts on their borders with 
each other? 
 Yes. They currently maintain them. 
 9. Please describe any preferential or expedi ted provisions for cust oms crossings by goods 
or natural persons originating in another member of the Customs Union.  
 Agreement on Simplified Procedure of Cust oms Formalities of Goods, moved between the 
Customs Union member-countries of September 24,  1999 (approved by Resolution #22 of the 
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on January 17, 2000) establishes the simplified procedure of 
customs formalities of goods originating from the te rritories of the states of the Parties and moved 
between the states of the Parties except for excise goods, currencies, and cultural values, armors, other 
taxable goods, which are not subject to the measu res of economic policy pursuant to the national 
legislations of these states of the Parties.    The Protocol on Simplified Procedure of Cu stoms Formalities of G oods not Intended for 
Industrial and Other Commercial Activities and Cu rrencies Moved by Natural Persons Through the 
Customs Borders of the Customs Union member-c ountries of January 22, 1998. Pursuant to the 
provisions of this Protocol the natural persons may move goods that are not intended for industrial 
and commercial activities under the simplified procedur e. The Protocol stipulates that currency and 
goods are moved in accordance with the national le gislation. Currency and goods are not declared 
except for currency and goods prohibited and limite d to import and export including in value terms 
and quality according to the national legislation of each  of the countries, which are declared in written 
form.    In accordance with the bilateral agreements  on free trade concluded between the Kyrgyz 
Republic and the Customs Union member-countries,  customs duties are not imposed on imported 
goods originating from these states and imported from their territories to the territory of the Kyrgyz 
Republic.   
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT 
4. Relation with Other Trade Agreements  
 
10. What is the relationship of this Agreemen t with the CIS Agreement, the various CIS 
bilateral FTAs, the Eurasian Economic Union,  and the new Union between Russia, Ukraine, 
Kazakhstan, and Belarus? Please be specific as to  tariff, services, and other legal obligations and 
their relationship with each other.  
 See paragraph 1 of document WT/REG71/4, p. 1. 
  There is no relationship between the Agreement on Customs Union and the new union between Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus.   WT/REG71/8 
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IV. OTHER 
 
11. Please describe in detail the current level of services liberalization in the context of the 
Customs Union, e.g. what sectors are totally lib eralized, in what sectors are preferences granted 
to firms or natural persons from Customs Union partners? Is any preference granted for 
natural persons supplying services that or iginate from Customs Union countries? 
 Currently, the Agreement on Trade in Services w ithin the EAEC framework is being drafted. 
 
12. Are there any preferences for Customs Un ion firms or natural persons in the 
distribution of goods? 
 There are no preferences. The distribution of goods is performed on a common basis. WT/REG71/8 
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ANNEX
 
 
Trade Among the Customs Union Partners, 2000-2002 
(in million of US dollars) 
 
 
 2000 2001 2002 2002/2001 (%) 
Kyrgyz Republic     
  Total trade turnover  1059.1 943.4 1072.2 113.7 
  Including CIS countries 506.5 517.9 581.0 112.2 
 Total exports 504.5 476.2 485.5 102.0 
 Including export to CIS countries 207.4 307.6 316.8 103.0 
 Total imports  554.6 467.2 586.7 125.6 
 Including import from CIS countries 299.1 210.3 264.2 125.6 
Russian Federation     
  Total trade turnover 197.7 149.6 196.7 131.5 
  Specific weight of total trad e turnover  18.7% 15.9% 18.3%  
  Specific weight of turnover of CIS countries 39.0% 28.9% 33.9%  
 Exports 65.1 64.5 80.0 124.0 
 Imports 132.6 85.1 116.7 137.1 
Belarus     
  Total trade turnover  6.9 9.1 6.4 70.3 
  Specific weight of total trade turnover  0.7% 1.0% 0.6%  
  Specific weight of turnover of CIS countries  1.4% 1.8% 1.1%  
 Exports 3.0 3.2 1.3 40.6 
 Imports 3.9 5.9 5.1 86.4 
Kazakhstan    
  Total trade turnover 90.8 120.8 160.8 133.1 
  Specific weight of total trade turnover 8.6% 12.8% 15.0%  
  Specific weight of turnover of CIS countries 17.9% 23.3% 27.7%  
 Exports 33.4 39.0 36.8 94.4 
 Imports 57.4 81.8 124.0 151.6 
Tajikistan     
  Total trade turnover 9.4 8.2 10.2 124.4 
  Specific weight of total trade turnover 0.9% 0.9% 1.0%  
  Specific weight of turnover of CIS countries 1.9% 1.6% 1.8%  
 Exports 7.5 6.7 10.2 152.2 
 Imports 1.9 1.5  0.0 
  WT/REG71/8 
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Trade Among the Customs Union Partners, 2000-2002 
(in quantity and value, million of US dollars) 
 
Trade of the Russian Federation  
 
2000 2001 2002  
HS  Description Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001
 EXPORTS  
 Vegetables and 
fruits Thous. tons 50.8 4.2 28.7 2.8 30.2 3.2 114.3 
12 Oil seeds and 
oleaginous fruits  Tons 537.7 0.3 273.7 0.8 357 0.6 75.0 
 Sugar Tons 1072.8 0.4 2507.6 1.0 7725.2 2.7 270.0 
20 Tinned vegetables 
 and fruits    0.7  0.1  0.1 100.0 
24 Tobacco Thous. tons  21.1 25.2  24.7 21.3 21 .4 17.8 83.6 
51 Wool  Tons  1019.3 0.5 302.4 0.2 541.2 0.1 50.0 
52 Cotton fiber  Thous. tons  12.4 12.1 16.5 12.8 37.7 27.4 214.1 
61-62 Apparel     1.0  1.1  4.2 381.8 
73 Articles of iron and 
steel     0.7  0.9  1.0 111.1 
84 Boilers, equipment, 
machinery, etc.     2.6  2.4  2.4 100.0 
85 Electrical machinery
and equipment     
7.5  6.4  5.9 92.2 
 Including filament 
lamps  Million pieces 110.4 6. 1 97.5 5.1 10 6 5.1 100.0 
87 Motor vehicles     1.7  7.1  4.0 56.3 
            Total export     65.1  64.5  80.0 124.0 
  IMPORTS 
 Fish and articles of it Tons 2183.8 1.4 1595.4 0.8 1769.7 0.8 100.0 
 Eggs mln. pieces  33.1  1.4 8 0.2 6. 7 0.2 100.0 
15 Vegetable oil  Tons 2012.2 1.2 668.8 0.4 332.7 0.2 50.0 
16 Prepared meat and 
fish articles     0.7  0.2  0.1 50.0 
 Sugar  Tons  5537.4 1.7 421.2 0.2 13143.9 3.3 1650.0 
18 Cocoa and its 
preparations      2.1  2.1  3.2 152.4 
19 Preparations of flour 
and milk     1.0  1.0  1 100.0 
 Beer  thous. liters  3323.3 2.4 4363.2 2.4 5860.6 2.9 120.8 
 Oil products thous. tons 62 17.0 35.4 8.4 109 22.6 269.0 
28 Inorganic chemicals    1.6  1.5  3.3 220.0 
29 Organic chemicals     3.1  1.1  1.8 163.6 
 Pharmaceutical 
products     3.6  3.0  3.3 110.0 
31 Fertilizers     1.8  1.3  1.7 130.8 
32 Dyes, paints and 
varnishes     3.5  2.5  3.2 128.0 
34 Soap and washing 
preparations     2.6  3.0  3.2 106.7 
36 Explosives, matches     1.6  1.1  1 90.9 
39 Plastics and articles    3.5  1.6  2.4 150.0 WT/REG71/8 
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2000 2001 2002  
HS  Description Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001
thereof   
40 Rubber and articles 
thereof      6.8  4.7  7.2 153.2 
44 Wood and articles of 
wood     5.2  3.7  4.9 132.4 
48 Paper and 
paperboard       6.4  5.5  5.5 100.0 
69 Ceramic products     1.2  1.5  0.7 46.7 
72 Iron and steel     5  4.4  5 113.6 
73 Articles of iron and 
steel     6.1  5.1  4.4 86.3 
84 Boilers, equipment, 
machinery, engines, 
etc.     15.5  5.7  7 122.8 
85 Electrical machinery
and equipment     7.9  1.7  2.9 170.6 
87 Motor vehicles     9.8  7.4  6.7 90.5 
90 Optical, medical, 
measuring 
instruments and 
apparatus     2.0  0.7  0.6 85.7 
94 Furniture     1.0  0.3  0.6 200.0 
Total imports    132.6  85.1  116.7 137.1 
 
 
Trade of Belarus  
    
2000 2001 2002  
HS  Description Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001
 EXPORTS  
12 Oil seeds an d
oleaginous fruits  Tons 20.3 0.1 26 0.1 25 0.1 100.0 
24 Tobacco  Tons 2501 2.0 2 362.4 1.8 1012.8 0.5 27.8 
52 Cotton fiber  Tons 241.1 0.2 693.3 0.8 479.4 0.4 50.0 
73 Articles of iron an d
steel     0.4  0.07  0.15 214.3 
87 Radiators (870891)    0.1  0.03   0.0 
               Total exports    3.0  3.2  1.3 40.6 
  IMPORTS 
 Sugar  Tons  506.6 0.1 167.2 0.07   0.0 
 Pharmaceutical 
products     0.2  0.3  0.4 133.3 
44 Wood and articles o f 
wood (boards 441019)    0.2  0.2  0.2 100.0 
48 Paper and 
paperboard      0.1  0.2  0.1 50.0 
69 Ceramic products     0.3  0.3  0.15 50.0 
84 Turbines, boilers, 
machinery, engines,    0.6  1.4  0.5 35.7  WT/REG71/8 
 Page 9 
 
 
2000 2001 2002  
HS  Description Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001
machines, etc.  
85 Electrical machinery
and equipment     0.3  0.1  0.1 100.0 
87 Motor vehicles     1.4  2.7  2.3 85.2 
 Furniture     0.2  0.06  0.2 333.3 
             Total imports   3.9  5.9  5.1 86.4 
 
 
Trade of Kazakhstan  
  
2000 2001 2002 
 Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001 
 EXPORTS  
 Milk and dair y
products  Tons  4006.4 1.1 4617.3 2.4 5587.8 3.1 129,2 
 Vegetables and
fruits  thous. tons  24.7 1.0 13.2 0.6 4.8 0.3 50,0 
12 Oil seeds an d 
oleaginous fruits     0.7  0.6  1.0 166,7 
 Sugar  Tons 1107.9 0.4 1662.2 0.5 2648.8 0.9 180,0 
20 Tinned vegetables
and fruits     0.1  0.6  0.2 33,3 
21 Ice-cream (210500) Tons 501.3 0.2 1341.2 0.7 2911 2.2 314,3 
24 Tobacco  thous. tons  1. 9 1.1 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1 20,0 
 Tobacco articles  mln. pieces  17 .2 0.3 115.5 0. 6 1.3 0.06 10,0 
25 Cement  (252329) thous. tons  87.4 1.9 60.1 1.4 65.2 1.5 107,1 
 Electric power  mln. kw/h 1072.7 11.6 1048.6 10.4 424.4 3.4 32,7 
39 Plastics and articles
thereof     2.7  2.6  4.4 169,2 
68 Slate (681110) thous. tons  28.5 1.2 39.3 1.7 41.8 1.9 111,8 
84 Boilers, machinery,
engines, etc.     1.1  1.7  2.3 135,3 
85 Electrical machinery
and equipment     1.1  1.5  2.0 133,3 
87 Motor vehicles     2.2  3.6  1.6 44,4 
             Total exports    33.4  39.0  36.8 94.4 
IMPORTS   
 Wheat  thous. tons  119.4 9.4 74.4 6.7 157.6 11.6 173.1 
 Wheat flour thous. tons  2.8 0.3 1.9 0.2 9.6 1.0 500.0 
 Sugar  thous. tons  2.5 0.9 0.01 0.005 11.4 3.3 66000.0 
19 Preparations of flou r
and milk     0.5  0.8  1.0 125.0 
20 Tinned vegetables
and fruits     0.4  0.4  0.5 125.0 
 Beer thous. liters  511.5 0.3 2878 1.3 4505 2.5 192.3 
 Tobacco articles  mln. pieces  53 4.1 5.3 588. 2 6.2 449.4 5.3 85.5 
 Coal  thous. tons  743.0 11.0 340.3 6.2 885.6 13.6 219.4 WT/REG71/8 
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2000 2001 2002 
 Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001 
 Oil products  thous. tons  86.6 15.7 140.4 33.1 225.9 51.5 155.6 
41 Leather articles     1.8  3.5  2.2 62.9 
72 Articles of iron an d
steel    1.7  1.6  1.9 118.8 
             Total imports   57.4  81.8  124.0 151.6 
  
 
Trade of Tajikistan  
    
2000 2001 2002 
 Measurement 
unit Qty. Value Qty. Value Qty. Value 2002/2001
EXPORTS  
 Vegetables an d
fruits  tons 1584 0.06 91.7 0.01   0.0 
 Tea  tons  98.5 0.1 225.4 0.4 149.7 0.3 75.0 
 Wheat  tons  9 0.001 2600 0.4 1425 0.2 50.0 
 Wheat flour  tons  1376.3 0.25 1354.6 0.2 2069.8 0.2 100.0 
 Sugar  tons  812.5 0.12 1437.7 0.3 2012.1 0.8 266.7 
 Oil products  tons  2627.4 0.7 7287.6 1.0 1356.5 0.3 30.0 
 Electric power  mln. kw/h  154.4 3.9 77.6 1.7 113.9 1.1 64.7 
39 Plastics and articles
thereof     0.1  0.2  0.05 25.0 
55 Man-made staple
fibers    0.06  0.1  1.9 1900.0 
 Textile and knitted
apparel     0.1  0.2  0.4 200.0 
68 Slate  tons  3052.7 0.14 8818.3 0.4 22107.2 1.1 275.0 
70 Cast glass and rolle d
glass thous. square 
meters  8.0 0.03 4.3 0.02 106.5 0.2 1000.0 
 Filament lamps  mln. pieces  4.7 0.4 6.4 0. 4 8.3 0. 5 125.0 
 Motor vehicles     0.2  0.1  0.2 200.0 
             Total exports    7.5  6.7  10.2 152.2 
IMPORTS   
26 Antimony ores an d
concentrates (261) Tons  47.9 0.02 3126.3 0.7   0.0 
 Oil products Tons 3402.8 0.2 155.8 0.04   0.0 
 Electric power  Million kw/h  125.7 1.1 34.6 0.2   0.0 
35 Explosive substance
(other than powder)
(350699) Tons  62.4 0.05 108.4 0.07   0.0 
 Aluminum and 
articles thereof  Tons 702,6 0,2 79,8 0,2   0,0 
             Total imports    1.9  1.5   0.0 
 
 
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