Armenia says EU duty-free trade plans compatible with EAEU membership

Armenia’s proposed duty-free export arrangements with the European Union do not conflict with its obligations as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan has said.

In an interview with Armenian Public Television, Kostanyan said the planned trade framework is consistent with existing practices and does not represent a departure from Armenia’s current economic commitments, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

“This practice already existed in the past. During the period when Armenia was covered by the European Generalized System of Preferences [GSP+], the republic was already a member of the EAEU, and this did not create any conflicts,” he said.

“The duty-free export regime that Brussels intends to grant Armenia is, in essence, practically identical to the GSP+ mechanism,” Kostanyan added.

Armenian officials have repeatedly said the country aims to deepen economic cooperation with the European Union while maintaining its existing commitments within the EAEU, which includes Russia and several other post-Soviet states.

The Kremlin has previously said that Armenia’s pursuit of closer integration with the EU is a sovereign decision, but stressed that it should not come at the expense of other EAEU member states’ economic interests.

By Sabina Mammadli