The UK has removed all remaining import duties and tariff quotas on seven types of agricultural products from Moldova.
The British Embassy in Chisinau announced this, noting that the UK strongly supports Moldova, the second most affected by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, which continues to do everything possible to support its people. As noted, the agreement, signed in May by British Ambassador to Moldova Steven Fisher and Vadim Gumene, state secretary of the Moldovan Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, came into force on July 31, and will be valid for 12 months. This gives Moldovan businesses more opportunities to promote the export of tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, plums, grape juice and cherries. The UK said it will continue to support Moldova and economic security throughout the region. As InfoMarket reported earlier, the UK has temporarily unilaterally canceled all customs duties on imports of agricultural products from Moldova. This became possible after the agreements amending the Agreement on Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation between Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, concluded on December 24, 2020 in the Moldovan capital, were signed on May 25. The amendments to the agreement provide for the unilateral and temporary abolition, initially for a period of 12 months, of tariff quotas on imports to the UK of agricultural products from Moldova, as well as the temporary abolition of entry prices for agricultural products specified in the agreement. So far, quotas have been set for tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, cherries, plums and grape juice. The initiative to liberalize imports of products from Moldova came from the United Kingdom as a sign of solidarity and support for Moldova. Currently, the bilateral legal framework between Moldova and the UK includes approximately 15 economic agreements. In 2022, the UK ranked 19th among Moldova's largest trading partners in the world with a share of 0.98% of the total trade volume. As Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Dumitru Alaiba noted earlier, "by removing trade barriers, we not only improve economic opportunities for our businesses, but also empower consumers and stimulate innovation. Moldovan exporters have the opportunity to expand into the UK market, opening up promising prospects." //01.08.2023 - InfoMarket.
