Serbia to start exporting Fiat cars to Russia duty-free soon

BELGRADE - Fiat cars from the Kragujevac factory could start being exported to Russia duty-free as early as the first half of this year, Trade Representative at the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Serbia Andrey Khripunov told Tanjug Thursday.

Russia is ready and had all the necessary procedures for duty-free import of Fiat cars produced in Serbia prepared, but it now needs to make agreements with the other member-states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) - Belarus and Kazakhstan - as Russia cannot make such a decision unilaterally, Khripunov said.

Russia has put the issue on the agenda of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) meeting taking place on April 15, he added.

Khripunov said that it would be a reciprocal trade arrangement, approving duty-free import of certain Russian-made cars to Serbia in exchange for duty-free export of Fiat cars from Serbia to Russia. We expect at least 5,000 Kragujevac-made Fiat cars in the first batch, he said.

The possibility of duty-free import of passenger cars from Serbia to Russia was first discussed during talks between Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 2014.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic (illustration)