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The relevant agreement will go into effect on 1 January 2016. According to Alexander Lukashenko, not only Russia but other EEU member states are concerned about the issue. “A serious situation is developing around the free trade zone in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Not only Russia but all of us have certain concerns about it,” noted the Belarus President. The Russian Federation has been discussing the problem with the European Union. No agreement has been reached so far, the EEU heads of state were told on 21 December. “We fear no talking will be done till 1 January either,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “This is why a situation may evolve when Ukrainian products are substituted with imports from the European Union while Ukrainian products flood our territory.”

Another consideration is more alarming. If a European Union product is imported into Ukraine with zero customs duties, then it can be sold across the entire Commonwealth of Independent States due to the relevant free trade agreement unless this market is protected. Russia has already taken measures to protect the market from such a situation.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, they have decided that the problem will be looked at in Q1 2016. Within half a year digital declarations will be introduced for commodities that will be transported to the Eurasian Economic Union. A similar system is already in place in Belarus-Russia trade. It can be used as the reference point in the EEU, however, a new approach may be worked out as well. “We have agreed to look through these options within half a year,” said the Belarus President.