Last week, Russia discussed the issue of reducing the limit on duty-free imports of goods purchased from foreign online stores. This was reported by RBC.
According to the publication, an interdepartmental meeting was held on February 7, where various options for changing the current norm were considered. The proposals included: maintaining the €1000 threshold as it is now; Discount to €500 or €200; removing the cap altogether and then introducing a tax.
Until 2019, the duty-free import limit for individuals in the EAEU countries was €1,000 and 31 kg per person per month. It was then gradually reduced, first to 500 Euros and from 2020 to 200 Euros. However, in April 2023, the limit returned to 1,000 Euros as part of measures to support the economy. This decision has been extended several times and is valid until March 31, 2024.
According to RBC sources, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the largest markets and logistics companies are in favor of maintaining the current € 1,000 limit. The Ministry of Industry and Trade insists on a reduction to 500 Euros, while the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Customs Service insist on a reduction to 200 Euros.
The Ministry of Finance and the Federal Customs Service believe that the final decision will be made by the government. Representatives of logistics companies and marketplaces emphasize that lowering the limit will have a negative impact on buyers due to increasing prices of imported goods.
The Eurasian Economic Commission noted that there has not yet been an official request from Russia to extend the 1000 Euro limit. This requires the consensus of all five EAEU countries.
Before that in Russia taken into account the possibility of relating taxes to world prices.
Earlier, the Council of Ministers expanded the ban on the export of some goods from the Russian Federation