Council of EU extends duty-free imports of Moldovan goods for another year

CHISINAU. July 21 (Interfax) - The Council of the European Union has extended the temporary exemption of certain categories of Moldovan products from import duties for another year, the European Union delegation to Moldova said with reference to the Council of the EU's decision made on Thursday.

"The council adopted today [Thursday] a regulation which renews and expands the temporary suspension of all outstanding tariffs and the entry-price system that are still applicable to seven agricultural products for another year, until 24 July 2024," the council said in a press release.

"The measures continue to cover all seven agricultural products for which exports from Moldova into the EU are not yet fully liberalized under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as they are subject to duty-free quotas: plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries and grape juice," it said.

The decision will take effect on the next day after its publication in the EU's Official Journal.

After measures liberalizing its trade with the EU took effect in summer 2022, Moldova reoriented its exports to the European market. According to official statistics, exports from Moldova to the EU increased from 1.8 billion euros to 2.6 billion euros in 2022. Over 60% of Moldova's products are now shipped to the EU market.