Russia plans to keep export duties on energy and many other commodities when it joins the World Trade Organization (WTO), the country's chief WTO negotiator Maxim Medvedkov said on Tuesday.
"We'll maintain the possibility of using export duties on oil, all energy and many other commodities," Medvedkov said.
At the very beginning of WTO negotiations, Russia was expected to cancel most export duties, except energy export duties.
Export duties will be identical to those fixed in the agreement on the free-trade zone within the CIS which is currently being prepared, Medvedkov added.
"The main stumbling block in the Russia-EU negotiations is duties on round timber exports, primarily on exports of birch, aspen and conifers," he said.
Russia started increasing rough timber export duties in 2007, when the rate jumped to 20 percent from 6.5 percent of customs value but no less than 10 euros per cubic meter. From 2009 to the present day, export duties amount to 25 percent of customs value but no less than 15 euros per cubic meter, excluding hardwood with a diameter of less than 15 centimeters. There is no export duty on birch. Aspen export duties amount to 10 percent, but no less than five euros per cubic metre.
The government planned to raise the duties to 80 percent of customs value but no less than 50 euros per cubic meter as early as in 2010 but the decision was postponed mainly due to objections from Finland.
Russia is now maintaining a moratorium on raising round timber export duties until January 1, 2011, although Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina has said it might be extended for another year.
MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti)
