MINSK, 14 July (BelTA) – Belarusian MPs are set to ratify a Belarus-Finland intergovernmental agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs procedures. The decision to uphold the bill on ratification at the forthcoming session was adopted at a session of the commission for international affairs and links with the CIS on 14 July, BelTA has learnt. Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee Vasily Dementei said that the agreement was necessitated by the increase in the mutual trade between Belarus and Finland. In 2006, the trade made up $102 million, but by 2008 it grew to $286 million. The crisis in 2009 was a major setback to the bilateral trade that shrank to $136 million, but since the beginning of 2010, it reached $70 million. According to Vasily Dementei, the agreement is aimed to expand the legal framework, facilitate the calculation of import taxes, dues and other payments, control the export and import of goods, prevent violations of the customs legislation make sure the sides abide by bans and restrictions. Under the document, the two countries will keep each other updated on the changes in the customs legislations, collection of dues, taxes and duties and provide information about the legality of import or export of goods. The sides will inform each other about new ways to break the customs law and new efficient methods to counteract violations. Vasily Dementei noted that Belarus has signed 15 similar agreements.

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