Belarus urges customs unions to increase import duties on leather shoes

According to a report by the Russian "Businessman" newspaper on October 12, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Guglinov recently sent a letter to the Ukrainian, Belarusian and Belarusian Customs Union Secretariat, proposing that the three countries would double their import duties on leather shoes, that is, from the current 10%. Increased to 20%, and not less than 1.8 euros per pair to 2.7 euros.

Belarus will review this issue next week by the Customs Union Committee. If passed, this measure will probably begin on January 1, 2012. The Russian Footwear Association ** Jemindova said that in 2010 the Russian footwear market demand is 570 million pairs, but Russia can only meet 10% of the market needs. At present, 10% of the import tariffs are already high. If they are raised again, they will inevitably lead to illegal imports, and will also increase the retail price of shoes by 40%.