On November 7, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov conducted a meeting of the Government Commission on Protective Measures in Foreign Trade and Customs Tariff Policy

The Commission discussed several measures of customs tariff regulation aimed at supporting the domestic automobile industry proposed pursuant to the directive of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin issued during his working trip to Yelabuga.

The proposed measures are aimed at optimising the rates of customs duties on imported cars and trucks as well as foreign-made buses considering the situation in the world and domestic automobile markets.

Following the discussion it was decided to recommend to the Government to raise the import duties on foreign-made vehicles which have been in service for over 5 years. The absolute rate varies depending on the size of the engine:

• - for cars from 2.5 to 5.7 euro per 1 cubic cm;
• - for trucks from 2.0 to 4.4 euro per 1 cubic cm;
• - for buses 3 euro per 1 cubic cm.

It was also decided to fix the customs rate applied to cars imported into Russia which have been in use from 1 to 3 years at 30% with a proportionate increase of the euro part. Similar rates have been proposed for cars which have been in use from 3 to 5 years.

For buses which have been in use for under 5 years the new duties will be as follows:

• - 0% for buses of an ecological class not below Euro-4;
• - 25% for buses of ecological class below Euro-4.

The Commission also decided to abolish duties on the import of new articulated lorries of class Euro-4 and higher.