RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
16 March 2005 
 (05-1095) 
Working Party on the Accession  
of the Republic of Tajikistan Original:   English 
 
 
   
ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN 
 
Additional Questions and Replies
 
 
 The following submission, dated 14 March 2005, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan.  
 
_______________ WT/ACC/TJK/12 
 Page i 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
II. ECONOMY, ECONOMIC POLICIES AND FOREIGN TRADE ......................................1  
2. Economic Policies.............................................................................................................. ........1  
(a) Main directions of the ongoing policies...................................................................................1  
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS .....................................................................2  
1. Import Regulation.............................................................................................................. .......2  
(b) Characteristics of national tariff ............................................................................................. 2 
(g) Other border  measures.......................................................................................................... ...3 
(k) Application of internal taxes on imports.................................................................................4  
2. Export Regulation.............................................................................................................. .......8  
(c) Quantitative export restrictions, includi ng prohibitions, quotas and licensing 
systems ........................................................................................................................ ...............8  
VII. INSTITUTIONAL BASE FOR TRAD E AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS 
WITH THIRD COUNTRIES ................................................................................................11  
  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 II. ECONOMY, ECONOMIC POLICIES AND FOREIGN TRADE 
2. Economic Policies (a) Main directions of the ongoing policies - Pricing policies 
Question 1: 
We refer to the sub-section on Pricing Policy at page 12 of the Memorandum on the Foreign 
Trade Regime (WT/ACC/TJK/3). 
Please indicate the enterprises involved in the production, purchase or sale of any "strategic 
products" that have been classified as a "natural", "allowed" or "temporary" monopoly. 
Answer:
 
Following is the list of enterprises, which are classified as subjects of natural monopoly: 1. Open Stock Company "Barki Tojik", provi ding services on production and transmission of 
electric and thermal energy; 
2. State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) "Tojikgaz", providing purchasing, transportation and 
supplying services of natural gas through pipelines; 
3. State Unitary Enterprise "Tojikiston", re ndering services on aviation passenger and  freight 
transportation, transport terminal and airport services; 
4. SUE "Rohi Ohan" providing railway transportation services; transport terminal services; 
5. Stock Company "Tojiktelekom", providi ng services of public electric connection; 
6. State Department "Pochtai Tojikis ton", providing public postal services; 
7. Enterprises of the Ministry of Industry of th e Republic of Tajikista n manufacturing products 
of military purpose. 
It is necessary to note, that concepts of "allowed" and "temporary" is envisaged in Tajik legislation, 
however to date there are no such typ es of monopolies exist in Tajikistan.  
Question 2:  
What are the monopoly activities and mo nopoly status of these enterprises? 
Answer: 
 
See the answer to Question 1. All enterprises name d in the answer to Question 1 are classified as 
natural monopolies.  
Question 3:  
How, why and by means of what legal instruments are their "monopoly" activities regulated? 
Answer:  
According to Article V of the Law of the Republic  of Tajikistan on Natural Monopolies the following 
methods of regulation of the activiti es of natural monopolies are applied: 
- price regulation implemented by fixing prices, tariffs or their mark-ups; WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 - defining consumers subject to mandatory service and determining minimal level of service in 
case of impossibility of satisfaction in full vol ume of goods (works, services) consumption, 
produced (realised) by subjects of natural m onopoly, taking into account the necessity in 
protecting rights and legal interest of citizens.   
Decision of applying methods regulating a certain subject of natural monopoly is taken by the body 
regulating natural monopolies on the base of analysis of  its activity, considering their invigorative role 
in advancing the quality of produced (realised) goods  (works, services) and satisfying the demand for 
them. At that, validity of expenses is estimated and the following is taken into consideration: 
- costs of production of goods (works, services), including wages, cost of raw materials, 
overhead expenses; 
- taxes and other payments; - cost of principal production funds, need in investments, required for their reproduction and 
depreciation deductions; 
- forecasted profit from the possible realisation of goods on different prices (tariffs);  - estrangement of different groups of co nsumers from the place of goods production; 
- conformity of quality of the produced (realis ed) goods (works, services) with consumers 
demand; 
- state subsidies and other measures of state support. 
In taking a decision on applying the methods regula ting activities of a certain subject of natural 
monopoly, the body regulating natural monopolies must consider information provided by interested 
persons on the activity of this subject of natural monopoly.  
Beside the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Natural Monopolies activity of natural monopolies 
are regulated in accordance with  the Provision of the State agency on Antimonopoly Policy, approved 
by the Regulation No. 75 of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan of 14 February 2001, as 
well as internal normative acts of this Agency (Procedure No. 81 of 24 December 2005, on regulating, 
determining, fixing prices (tariffs) or their mark-up rate for services rendered by the subjects of 
natural monopolies, Provision No. 81 on the registry of subjects of natural monopolies of 24 December 2002 and Provision No. 76 on legal investigation for violation of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Natural Monopolies of N ovember 2002).  Copies of these legislation would 
be submitted to the Working Party. 
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE IN GOODS 
1. Import Regulation 
(b) Characteristics of national tariff Question 4:  We are concerned about the discriminatory potent ial of product descriptions in Tajikistan’s 
tariff nomenclature based on geographical origin wh ich have been transposed to its initial tariff 
offer.  We will not be able to agree to the ad option of a goods schedule in which the scope of 
some proposed concessions is designed to ensu re the a priori exclusion of particular Members 
from the benefits of those concessions.  De partures from most-favoured-nation treatment are 
permitted in the WTO subject to appropriate observance of the provisions of GATT Article XXIV, the Uruguay Round Understanding on GATT Article XXIV and the Enabling Clause.  There is however no other legal basis for permanent departures from most-favoured-nation 
treatment in respect of commitments on tariffs established under GATT Article II.  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 - We look forward to early adjustments to th e product nomenclature in Tajikistan’s tariff 
offer that will address this concern. 
Answer:  
According to the Regulation No. 44 of the Go vernment of the Republic of Tajikistan of 
5 February 2003  "On ratification of an Agreement on single goods no menclature of foreign economic 
activity of EuroAsian Economic Community", the Republic of Tajikistan applies ten digit Goods 
Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity of  EuroAsian Economic Community (EAEC).  The 
Goods Nomenclature of EuroAsian Economic Comm unity according to the Agreement of EAEC is 
developed on the basis of the Harmonized System  of Description and Coding of goods of the WCO 
(HS 2002) and the EC. 
Both the current customs tariff of the Republic of  Tajikistan as well as the initial offer are developed 
in accordance with the ten digit Goods nomenclature of foreign economic activity of EAEC.  We do 
see any discriminatory potential in our tariff nomencl ature and would appreciate if this member could 
further elaborate its concerns with respect to specific tariff items. 
(g) Other border measures 
Question 5:  
The replies to Questions 48 and 87 of WT/ACC/TJK/6 indicate that there is a mandatory 100% 
pre-payment requirement for foreign purchases of cotton and other "strategic products", 
including "processed goods", aluminium produc ts, precious metal ores, concentrates and 
residues, tobacco, hides and leather, fertiliser, g eranium oil, natural honey, herbs and snake 
venom. 
Please specify the tariff lines for the pr oducts subject to this requirement. 
Answer:  
Code 
GN FEA Name of position 
0409  Natural honey 
1211 Herbs, mummy and snake venom 
2401 Fermented tobacco  
3301 21 Geranium oil 
3102-3105 Chemical fertilizers 
4104-4115 Hides and leather 
5201 – 5212 
  Cotton fiber and produc ts of its procession   
2616, 7101, 
7112,  Ore, concentrates and scrap of precious metals, precious natural stones and their 
articles 
7204, 7503, 7602, 78002, 
7902, 8002 Scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals  
7601 – 7616 Aluminium and its products  
 WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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Question 6:  
How will Tajikistan eliminate this requirement? 
Answer:  
This requirement should not be considered as limita tion to export or limitation to market access of the 
indicated goods. No quantity restrictions and li censing requirements on export of indicated goods are 
applied. At the same time, it is equally applied irr espective of export country of destination, i.e. MFN 
treatment is ensured. This requirement is introduced  in order to avoid illegal outflow of the capital and 
secure currency returns coming from sales of indi cated goods to currency accounts of exporters in 
their service banks in the Republic of Tajikistan. 
(k) Application of internal taxes on imports Question 7:  In the table under the reply to Question 11 of WT/ACC/TJK/6, in reference to Article 189 of the 
Tax Code, Tajikistan states that "exported goods (works, and services) shall be subject to zero-
rated VAT, except the supply of goods (works, a nd services) to the states applying the VAT on 
goods (works, and services) exported to the Repub lic of Tajikistan".  We would appreciate 
information to clarify the nature of this statem ent and its possible implications for conformity 
with WTO non-discrimination provisions. 
Which states apply VAT to goods and services exported to Tajikistan? 
Answer: 
 
This provision contained in the old Tax Code is e liminated.  According to the Legislative Action Plan 
(document WT/ACC/TJK/7) Tajikistan has adopted a new Tax Code which entered into force starting 
from 1 January 2005 according to which imports from a ll countries VAT is levied equally on the basis 
of MFN.  
Question 8:  
Does Tajikistan apply VAT to goods and services exported to these states?  If so, when will 
Tajikistan align the VAT treatment of its export s to these states with the VAT treatment of its 
exports to the rest of the world in order to ensu re consistency of the territorial application of its 
VAT in relation to exports with GATT Article I? 
Answer:  
With introduction of the new Tax Code from 1 January  2005 this requirement is already brought into 
line with GATT Article I requirements.  
See also the answer to Question 7.  
Question 9:  
Does the application of VAT to goods and servi ces exported to these states entail a reciprocal 
obligation on the part of Tajikistan to exempt  goods and services imported from these states 
from VAT?  If so, when will Tajikistan align th e VAT treatment of its imports from these states 
with the VAT treatment of its imports from the re st of the world in order to ensure consistency 
of the territorial application of its VAT in  relation to imports with GATT Article I?  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 Answer:  
See the answers to Questions 7 and 8. 
Question 10:  
In the reply to Question 83 of WT/ACC/TJK/6, it is indicated that cotton and primary 
aluminium are subject to VAT exemptions.  We would appreciate information to clarify the 
nature of these exemptions. 
Answer:  
The issues of value added tax are determined in Ch apters 25-33, Part VII  of the new Tax Code of 
Tajikistan.   
Question 11:  Please provide the tariff codes and product descr iptions for the products subject to these VAT 
exemptions. 
Answer: 
 
(a) According to point 3 of the Article 211 of th e new Tax Code supply, including for export of 
primary aluminium, raw cotton and cotton fiber is exempted of VAT.   
Product Description GN FEA Codes 
Primary aluminium 7601 
Cotton and Cotton Fiber 5201-5203 
 
(b) In addition the following exemptions are provi ded for in the Article 211 of the Tax Code of 
the Republic of Tajikistan: supply of goods (excluding export of goods), and services are 
exempted from VAT: 
i) Sale, transfer or rent of real estate, except: 
 - sale or transfer of hotel accommodation or housing for holiday-makers; 
 - sale or transfer of newly constructed living quarters, except the cases when premises 
were used as residential at least for the duration of 2 years. 
ii) Providing financial services (in financial lease (leasing) in accordance with Article 33 
of this Code exemption is provided excep tionally for interests and does not cover 
amounts payable in favour of leasing-giver or leasing-obtainer on account of cost repayment of the subject of financial lease (leasing) (principal debt)); 
iii) Supply of national and (or) foreign cu rrency (except for numismatic purposes), as 
well as securities; 
iv) Providing religious and ritual services by religious organizations; v) Providing medical services, except for cosmetic services; vi) Providing services in the sphere of:  
 - preschool training and education; WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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  - general basic and genera l intermediate education; 
 - elementary, intermediate, higher professional education, graduate professional 
education; 
 - additional and special education. 
Types of activity provided for in points v and vi of this Part are liable to VAT exemption only 
if they are implemented by persons having appropriate state licenses (permissions) for the right to engage in these types of activity, issued in order set by normative legal acts of the Republic of Tajikistan; 
vii) Supply of goods, implementation of works and providing services by way of 
humanitarian aid;  
viii) Supply of goods, implementation of  works and providing services, produced 
(implemented, rendered) directly by pe nitentiary agencies of the Republic of 
Tajikistan or state enterprises, included in penitentiary system of the Republic of 
Tajikistan; 
ix) Supply of newspapers, magazines, art literature, children literature, scientific and 
technical books and textbooks, as well as implementation of works on their 
publication. 
Privileges provided for in this Item do not c over the above mentioned types of product of 
erotic and specialised advertising character; 
x) Supply of goods (clothing and shoes, head dresses, hoseiry and socks) of child stock 
by the list defined by the Governme nt of the Republic of Tajikistan; 
xi) Supply of specialised products of indi vidual use for handicapped by the list defined 
by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan; 
xii) Resort sanatorium services. List of agencies (organisations) that render such  services is determined by the Government of 
the Republic of Tajikistan. 
(c)  Supply, including for export of primary al uminium, raw cotton and cotton fiber is exempted 
of VAT.   
(d)  The following types of import are exempted of VAT: 
i) Import of National and (or) foreign currency (except for numismatic purposes), as 
well as securities; 
ii) Import of gold, silver, platinum, palladi um (rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium) by 
National Bank of Tajikistan, as well as im port of gold, silver, platinum, palladium 
(rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium ), natural (processed and unprocessed) 
diamonds, sapphires, emerald, ruby, alexandrites, pearls, spinels by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan for the State bank of valuables; 
iii) Import of goods as humanitarian aid, as well as import of goods, transferred to charity 
organizations on non-repayable basis for the purpose of elimination of consequences of natural hazards, accidents and catastroph es, and import of goods transferred on 
non-repayable basis to state agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan; 
iv) Import of industrial and technological e quipment and its components (a set, it means 
without these components industrial and technological equipment does not work) for  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 formation or replenishment of an author ised fund of an enterprise or technical 
rearmament of a functioning production, on condition that this property is used directly for manufacturing of goods, implem entation of works and rendering services 
in accordance with constituent documents of  enterprises and does not refer to the 
category of excise goods, as well as personal property, imported to the Republic of 
Tajikistan by foreign employees of enterprises with foreign investment directly for their use. In case if such enterprise is liqui dated or if the above mentioned industrial 
and technological equipment and its co mponents imported to the Republic of 
Tajikistan are not used or realised by this  enterprise to anothe r person during 4 years 
from the day of arrival (import) to the republic, VAT sum unpaid according to this 
Point fall due to collection for the budget. Gr anting of this privilege and appropriation 
of the equipment to industrial and technolog ical is implemented in the order set by 
the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan;  
v) Import of agricultural technology and its parts, as well as medicaments according to 
the schedule, determined by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in 
accordance with Goods Nomenclature  of Foreign Economic Activity; 
vi) Import of goods implemented for realisa tion of target projects, approved by the 
Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, out  of (within) proceeds of grants and (or) 
credits (loans), provided by legal persons or individuals, foreign states, governments 
of foreign states or international organizations; 
vii) Import of goods for construction of object s of special importance. List of such 
important objects is determined by the Gove rnment of the Republic of Tajikistan.  
viii) Import (except for excise goods) of main types of raw materials, materials, energy 
resources and equipment according to the list and in volumes determined by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, implemented directly by Tajik Aluminium 
Plant for production of primary aluminium; 
ix) Import of specialised goods of indivi dual use for the handicapped by the list, 
determined by the Government of  the Republic of Tajikistan. 
Question 12:  
Please confirm that all internal and external sales of these products, regardless of origin or 
destination, are not subject to VAT. 
Answer: 
 
According to Article 211.3 of th e new Tax code, all internal and external sales of these products, 
regardless of origin or destination, are not subject to VAT.   
Question 13:  
Please confirm that all imports of these products in to Tajikistan are exempt from VAT.  If so, 
can these products be imported free of VAT by  any enterprise, unconditionally and from any 
source? 
Answer:  
According to Article 211 of the new Tax Code imports (except for excisable goods) of main types of 
raw materials, materials, energy resources and equipment according to the list and in volumes determined by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, implemented directly by Tajik 
Aluminium Plant for production of primary aluminium are exempted from VAT.  Imports of cotton 
and cotton fiber is not exempted from VAT.  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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Question 14:  
Are exemptions from VAT provided in respect of the purchases of the enterprises producing 
these products?  If there are such VAT exemptio ns for the purchases of enterprises producing 
these products, which enterprises benefit and which purchases are exempt from VAT?  Are the 
exemptions full or partial?  Are the exemptions conditional or unconditional? 
Answer:  
See the answer to Question 13. 
Question 15:  
Are any VAT exemptions related to the strategic status accorded by the Tajikistani authorities 
to particular products or particular  enterprises producing those products? 
Answer:  
All exemptions are indicated in the answer to Question 11. 
Question 16:  
We refer to the reply to Question 82 of WT/ACC/TJ K/6.  We would be grateful for advice on 
when the sales taxes on cotton and primary al uminium will be cancelled, including legal 
citations relating the cancellation of these taxes. 
Answer:  
Sales taxes on cotton and primary aluminium will be cancelled in due transitional period. 
2. Export Regulation 
(c) Quantitative export restrictions, including  prohibitions, quotas and licensing systems 
Question 17: 
The reply to Question 86 of WT/ACC/TJK/6 seem s to say that intending exporters of certain 
products are obliged to auction their products at National Commodity Exchange auctions.   
Please provide a complete list of the products su bject to this requirement identified by tariff 
code and product description. 
Answer:  
Below is the list of raw materials and goods prod uced by the domestic commodity producers and 
subject to mandatory sale through the Tajik Universal Commodity Exchange.  
Goods nomenclature Code according to the CIS goods nomenclature of the 
foreign economic activity 
Materials of phytogenous origin (lint)  1404 
Tobacco and industrial  tobacco substitutes 24 
Ores and ashes 26 
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine 2801 
Rare-earth metals 2805 
Sodium Hydrate, etc. 2815  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 Goods nomenclature Code according to the CIS goods nomenclature of the 
foreign economic activity 
Pharmaceutical production 30 
Explosives 3602, 3603 
Raw hides and skins 4101 
4102 
4103 
Silk 50 
Fleece, fine and coarse wool  51 
Cotton 52 
Natural and cultivated pearls, precious and 
semiprecious stones, precious metals, clad metals 
and different goods from them 71 
Ferrous metals and goods from them 
 72-73 
Copper waste 7404 
Nickel waste 7503 
Aluminium goods 76 
Lead waste 7802 
Isolated wires, cables and other isolated electric 
wires with connecting parts or without them 8544 
 
Question 18:  
Please provide a complete list of enterprises identi fied in any laws, regulations or decisions that 
are subject to this requirement. 
Answer:  
According to Item III of the Resolution No. 237 of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan of 
8 June  2001, all enterprises, orga nisations and other subjects of economy irrespective of the form of 
ownership, engaged in export of goods, raw ma terials and goods, produced by domestic commodity 
producers and liable mandatory realisation through Tajik Universal Commodity Exchange, shall in 
due course follow this requirement. 
Question 19:  
We seek an explanation of any relationship there may be between Tajikistan’s requirement to 
auction products at National Commodity Exch ange auctions and its concept of strategic 
products.  Has the choice of products subject to  such auctioning requirements been influenced 
by products/sectors/enterprises that the Tajikistani authorities consider to be strategic? 
Answer:  
The term "strategic" is not precise determined in th e Tajik legislation.  These are the important export 
items having significant share in the structure of export s.  As can be seen in the above tables, strategic 
goods are not the identical with the goods subject for mandatory sale through Commodity Exchange.   
Question 20:  
The reply to Question 86 of WT/ACC/TJK/6 seems to say that if intending exporters of those 
products obtain a higher price at auction than under a pre-existing export contract, they are 
then obliged to sell the product to the final bi dder at the auction price rather than honour the WT/ACC/TJK/12 
Page 10 
 
 
pre-existing contract.  If this is correct, there wo uld be a forced sale to the bidder at auction and 
a mandatory repudiation of the pre-existing contract. 
Is this interpretation of Tajikistan’s requirement correct?  If not, in what respects does it not 
correspond to the applicable requirement. 
Answer:  
The interpretation, concerning the requirement of mandatory sale to exporters of goods for a higher 
price than under pre-existing export contract, is  not correct.  According to the existing practice 
exchange contract is concluded only after holding auctions. Thus, there would be no question of 
annulation of an existing contract.  Exclusions ma y be for forward-futures contracts (agreements), 
concluded between cotton producers and investors in order to implement operative accounting that are 
subject to mandatory registration (fixation) in  the Tajik Universal Commodity Exchange.  
Question 21: 
In the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime it is stated that "at present, all prices are 
liberalized, except in cases when good s are delivered by an enterprise, which is classified as a 
natural, allowed or temporary monopoly".  We are unable to see why forcing intending an 
exporter to sell at a price higher than under a pre- existing contract should not be considered a 
form of export price regulation.  This establish es minimum export prices that are contingent on 
the current world price and requires that export sales not be made inconsistently with those 
minimum prices.  This would violate the prohibition on unjustifiable export restrictions under GATT Article XI. 
What are Tajikistan’s plans to eliminate its worl d-price/auction-price-contingent obligations on 
exporters to sell their products at prices higher than under pre-existing contracts? 
Answer: 
 
The system of mandatory sales is intended to avoi d outflows of capital through underpricing of goods.  
At the same time Tajik Government does not fix or  establish minimum prices.  Prices are established 
at the Commodity Exchange on the market principles of demand and offer.   
Question 22: 
We assume that the possibility of the forced repudiation of pre-existing export contracts 
presupposes the existence of a requirement to register export contracts with the relevant 
authorities and a monitoring mechanism. 
Is this correct?  If this is correct, we woul d appreciate full details of such requirements to 
register and monitor export contra cts, including:  the products covered;  the enterprises bound 
by those requirements;  all authorities with wh om intending exporters are required to register 
their export contracts;  a description of ho w the requirements work;  a description of the 
process by which the contracts are monitored;  and comprehensive information on the legal 
basis for the registration and moni toring of export contracts. 
Answer:  
Products covered are indicated in the table under th e Question 7 above.  All enterprises are subject to 
this requirement.  The monitoring system is ra ther simple and limited . Document obtained from 
Commodity Exchange is presented to customs wh en clearing goods for export.  A copy of the  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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 Resolution No. 237 of the Government of the Republ ic of Tajikistan of 8 June 2001 will be submitted 
to the Working Party. 
Question 23: 
How will Tajikistan eliminate these requirements? 
Answer:  
See the answer to Question 20.  
VII. INSTITUTIONAL BASE FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH 
THIRD COUNTRIES 
Question 24:  
We have recently seen an announcement that the Prime Ministers of Belarus, Kazakhstan, the 
Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and Tajikistan have sign ed a document setting up joint customs rates.  
Could Tajikistan please submit to the Secretaria t an English translation of this document for 
examination in the Working Party? 
Answer:  
It should be noted that Agreement on establishm ent of EAEC was signed in 10 October 2000 on 
purpose to create necessary conditions for establishm ent of a single economic area and customs union, 
providing for creation of single domestic market, sing le customs territory, determining single customs 
tariffs, abolition of customs control over intern al borders, presence of monotype mechanism of 
economy and trade regulation.  
In the frame of priority-oriented direction of EA EC development for 2003-2006 and subsequent years 
formation of customs union is one of the prin cipal goals of establishing EAEC and implies 
coordinated movement toward unification of fore ign trade and customs legislature, as well as 
conducting coherent border policy. (WT/ACC/TJK/3:  Item “b” Part VII and Item “e” Annex 8). 
Question 25: 
Could Tajikistan please elaborate on plans to establish a single agricultural market in the CIS 
area and its anticipated involvement in such  a single market?  How will such a single 
agricultural market be established?  Will it in volve the opening up of import quotas and export 
quotas of limited duration for particular produc ts?  Will it involve the creation of "special 
regimes" for importation or exportation?  Will th e parties to it forego recourse to anti-dumping, 
countervailing, safeguards and special agricul tural safeguards measures in relation to 
agricultural products traded within the area?  Wi ll all agricultural trade in the area be covered, 
or only trade in certain products?  Will trade in agricultural products within the area be 
exempt from import duties (including tariff quo tas), export duties and quantitative restrictions 
on importation and exportation? 
Answer:  
Issue of creating a single agricultural market in th e frame of CIS member-states were not considered 
heretofore. However, this issue is being discussed over within the framework of the Organization of 
Central Asian Cooperation (OCAC).  Presently, a Draft of the Consortium on Creation of Food 
Market, agreed on working groups level, is unde r consideration of OCAC Member-States.  WT/ACC/TJK/12 
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Question 26:  
We understand that Tajikistan is a party to the Ashgabat Agreement on Industrial 
Cooperation.  What does this agreement provide for in respect of the terms of entry of trading partners’ products into Tajikistan’s markets and Tajikistan’s exports to its trading partners?  
(For example, in respect of customs duties on im ports and exports, impo rt and export quotas, 
customs fees and charges, application of intern al taxes.)  How does Tajikistan implement this 
Agreement? 
Answer: 
 
According to Article 4 of the Agreement on Ge neral Conditions and Mechanism of Support for 
Development of Production Cooperation of Enterpris es and Branches of CIS Member-states, the main 
link of production cooperation and di rect relations are agreements (contracts) that are concluded by 
managing subjects on the basis of applicable inte rgovernmental, branch-wis e and inter-ministerial 
agreements and up to creation of a customs union will serve as basis for customs bodies in permitting 
goods, delivered by way of cooperation through the border.  Customs clearance of goods is 
implemented in accordance with th e present Agreement and in the order provided for by customs 
legislature of the Parties.  
According to Article 5 of this Agreement the Pa rties shall undertake not to apply import and export 
duties, taxes, excise taxes and quantity restrictio ns in regard to goods, delivered by way of 
cooperation, within the framework of customs regulations of processing.  
In pursuance of this Agreement and the Protocol on Mechanism of its realization, the Government of 
the Republic of Tajikistan by its Regulation No. 28 of 12 January 1996 approved the Provision on the 
procedure of goods transfer through custom s border of the Republic of Tajikistan.  
Also, within the framework of th e above Agreement the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan 
signed bilateral Agreements on C ooperation in production with the Governments of the Russian 
Federation and Republic of Moldova.  At the same tim e, Ministry of Industry of the Republic of 
Tajikistan signed lateral Agreements  on Cooperation in production with the Ministries of Industry of 
the Republic of Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic and Ukraine.  
__________