Russia has spoken against Belarus’ intention to cut down the duties on importing electric vehicles, Valyantsina Nahavitsyna, Deputy Head of the State Customs Committee of Belarus, said when interviewed by state-run TV station ONT.
In accordance with a number of agreements, the two countries shall use single import duty rates and Belarus cannot unilaterally change them for the benefits of its citizens.
“The odds are fifty-fifty, since Russia has already said it is interested in developing its own electric car industry. Therefore, Russia is our opponent in this issue,” Nahavitsyna stressed.
In August 2017, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka ordered Belarusian developers of electric cars to strive for Tesla’s standards.
In July 2018, the Belarusian leader signed Decree Nr 273 ‘On promoting the use of electric vehicles’. Moreover, the state-owned petroleum giant Belorusneft announced that there would be 500 charging stations for electric cars in the year of 2021.
