First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov chaired a regular meeting of the Government Commission on Foreign Trade Protection Measures in Customs and Tariff Policy.
After the discussion, the Commission supported a proposal on extending the duty-free importation of facing material for tropical-tree furniture on a permanent basis.
Commission members decided to charge 5% import duties on polycarbonate, used to manufacture optical data carriers, effective July 16, 2009 and to increase such import duties to 10% effective January 1, 2010.
The Commission deemed it appropriate to stipulate the relevant euro component in addition to the current 15% import duties on caustic soda and polyvinylchloride. Euro-component volumes will be calculated in line with the value of goods being imported during the first quarter of 2009.
Commission members advised the Government to retain the 5% import duty on butadiene.