Despite signing the "road map" on Armenia's joining the Customs Union, we still have questions about privileges or shortcomings of the Customs Union, chairman of Employers Union of Armenia, Gagik Makaryan, said at today's press-conference.
It is not clear yet if the decision of the Armenian authorities contains more positive or negative elements. The technical side of the issue is not clear either, in particular, possible dividends when implementing the "roadmap" especially in the context of the export-import operations. Will Armenia gain from using of the new customs taxes or not? Especially if we take into consideration the fact that at the Russian market there are practically no industrial goods produced in Armenia. So, the share of the alcohol production in the general volume of the trade and economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia amounted to $136 million, the share of rough diamonds - $24 mln, of fresh fish $13, of fresh fruits and vegetables - $12 mln, of grape - $9,5 mln, etc. In fact, all this is agriculture production but not industrial. "Against such background, it is not clear what global issues Armenia is going to resolve at the level of the Customs Union", - the economist asked.
Yesterday Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Armenia signed a statement on Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. Given the need for further mutually beneficial development of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and supporting Armenia's intention to become a full member of the Customs Union, the Presidents of the four countries approved the action plan (roadmap).
To recall, on Sept 3 2013 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union and participate in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Before that Yerevan had been actively negotiating on the Association Agreement/ Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union. Armenia was expected to initial the AA/ DCFTA during the Eastern Partnership Summit in November 2013, but it failed to.