Moldova Has Set a Timeline for Imposing Tariffs on Goods from Transnistria
Moldova has updated a draft resolution that provides for the phased introduction of import duties on goods from unrecognized Transnistria. The first restrictions are scheduled to take effect as early as September 1.
Specifically, the duties will apply to alcohol, tobacco products, perfumes, jewelry, cell phones, laptops, and automobiles. Starting January 1, the list will be expanded, and beginning in April, the duties will be extended to natural gas and electricity.
A resolution by the Moldovan government provides for the phased introduction of VAT and excise taxes on imports from Transnistria. It should be noted that the initial version called for these measures to take effect as early as August 1, but at the end of July, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan announced a postponement of at least one month.
According to the updated draft, starting September 1, duties will be imposed on Transnistrian imports of 12 categories of goods, including natural and artificial caviar, alcohol, tobacco products, natural leather and substitutes, fireworks, perfumes, jewelry, natural and cultured pearls, phones and laptops, and vehicles.
Starting January 1, duties will apply to non-alcoholic beverages, base metals and products made from them; ores, concentrates, slag, and ash; kaolin and other clays; petroleum products and oils.
Starting in April, natural gas and electricity will be subject to duties.
Until now, entrepreneurs from Transnistria have not paid any import duties.
This was reported by Newmaker.
Following a request from Kyiv, Moldova has halved the tariff on the transit of Ukrainian cargo.
Ukraine is considering the possibility of transporting grain by rail through Moldova to the Romanian port of Constanța as a safer alternative to sea exports. Kyiv has already appealed to Chișinău to establish a reduced tariff for such shipments.
As a reminder, grain exports from Ukraine could fall by more than half.
