Russia Wants Free-Trade Zone Linking EU, Moscow-Led Customs Union.

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Ria Novosti

BRUSSELS, January 28 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow wants to establish a free-trade zone between the European Union and the Russian-led economic union of former Soviet States, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

“As a specific proposal, we have suggested that the EU leadership study the possibility of establishing a free-trade zone between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union, which is currently being established by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan,” Putin told reporters on Tuesday after an EU-Russia summit.

“A lot of problems are yet to be discussed, and a lot of issues are to be addressed at an expert and technical level,” Putin said. “But I think that we should start thinking about it right now.”

Putin said the next EU-Russia summit would be held on June 3, on the eve of the G8 summit in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

Read more: http://en.ria.ru/world/20140128/186998455/Russia-Wants-Free-Trade-Zone-Linking-EU-Moscow-Led-Customs-Union.html

[BelgianMadCow]

1. interesting option vis a vis Ukraine

but I'd rather have us stop all this "free" trading.

[dipsydoodle]

2. In our case it simplifies matters

by removing the costs of managing duty charges and vat aspects . You know that if I buy something from elsewhere in the EU I pay the vat applicable to that country and no duty is charged on import. Similar would apply if the EU had a trade agreement with Russia.

They're not talking about an agreement like the TPP or TAP.

In the case of Ukraine they'd be able to export more to Europe with a price advantage which is what they need to be able to do in addition to their exports to Russia etc to boost their economy.