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MINSK, 27 November (BelTA) - Belarus proposes to revise the mechanism for distribution of import customs duties between the budgets of the EAEU member states every three years, taking into account the volume of imports, Belarus First Deputy Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov told BelTA on the margins of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Minsk.

“We propose the new methodology that implies revising the mechanism for import customs duties distribution every three years, taking into account various factors, including the volume of imports,” said Yuri Seliverstov.

A lot of time has passed since the amounts of import duties were calculated and distributed last time. Besides, the EAEU member states have obligations in the World Trade Organization. “We must update the information and take a well-crafted decision on the distribution of import customs duties based on the volume of imports of every member state,” he said.

The EAEU countries need to decide on the new methodology before the end of 2018. The current mechanism for the distribution of import customs duties (Armenia - 1.22%, Belarus - 4.56%, Kazakhstan - 7.055%, Kyrgyzstan - 1.9%, Russia - 85.265%) has been extended through the end of 2019. “We have no decision on the new methodology today. There were five various options, but the parties did not reach a consensus. There is a proposal to make the current mechanism permanent, but Belarus is against. It is important that the distribution mechanism is fair. The mechanism should be updated every three years,” said Yuri Seliverstov.