EAEU to sign interim free trade zone agreement with Mongolia in 2024, continues talks with UAE, Indonesia - Russian deputy PM

MOSCOW. Nov 26 (Interfax) - The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is expected to sign an interim free trade agreement with Mongolia before the end of the year.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters that the conclusion of the talks with Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates on the creation of free trade zones is not to be expected this year.

"We're approaching the signing of an interim free trade zone agreement with Mongolia, we're expecting it. The talks with all other countries which were mentioned are still ongoing," he said, answering a question about the prospects of the EAEU's signing free trade zone agreements with Indonesia and the UAE.

"No, not with anyone else [except for Mongolia] before the year-end," he said.

To date, the EAEU has signed free trade agreements with Iran, Vietnam, and Serbia. It was reported earlier that the negotiations on signing trade agreements with Indonesia, the UAE, and Egypt are in the final stage. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) said that the agreements with the UAE and Indonesia could be signed in 2024.

The EEC hosted the talks with Mongolia on the signing of an interim free trade agreement earlier this year.