At the Eurasian Economic Commission Vladimir Serpikov, Director of the EEC Trade Policy Department, and Vladimir Sinkevich, Director of the EEC Department for Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Measures, led a discussion with representatives of government agencies, business associations and businesses on the access of agricultural produce from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to the Iranian market. The meeting was held ahead of the entry into force on May 15 this year of the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The preferential coverage of the Agreement is 67% of the agricultural commodity nomenclature, which accounts for 98% of EAEU agricultural exports to Iran. The liberalized trade regime will significantly reduce the level of tariff protection of the Iranian party: Iran's average MFN rate for all agricultural commodity nomenclature will fall from 30% to 14%.
"The agreement creates unique tariff conditions for EAEU businesses to access the Iranian market, including in terms of food products. In this regard, it is necessary to identify the barriers and problematic issues that we should above all pay attention to while developing cooperation with Iran in this area," said Vladimir Serpikov.
He also reminded that the Agreement simultaneously improves the regulatory part concerning the application of sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary quarantine measures, which can have a significant impact on mutual trade.
"The EAEU has established a regulatory and legal framework in the field of SPS measures, which sets requirements to safety, including with regard to food products, for import procedures and product movement across the territory of the Union. When complying with the EAEU law in these areas, products of third countries, including Iran, can enter the market of the EAEU Member States," shared Vladimir Sinkevich.
Access of agricultural produce, including the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, is proposed to be discussed with the Iranian party during the first meeting of the Joint Committee for Implementing the Agreement, scheduled for the second half of 2025. In addition, the most promising areas of interaction with Iranian partners in this field are planned to be included in the draft Joint Action Plan (Road Map) on trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU, its Member States and Iran, aimed at implementing the provisions of the Agreement.
