The EU trade concessions for Armenia will not be canceled when the latter joins the Customs Union, Armenian Economy Minister Vahram Avanesyan said on Wednesday when replying to the parliamentarians' questions. The minister said that the matter concerns the GSP+ system.
Avanesyan pointed out that this system of preferences is of much importance to Armenia and Armenia's representatives spoke of that during the negotiations with the European colleagues. "We got the opportunity to work under the GSP system with 10 countries, including Georgia", he said.
The minister stressed that the system allows Armenia to export 6500 out of 9600 types of goods and pay reduced or zero duties (zero duties for 6000 goods and reduced duties for the rest). This circumstance considerably enhances the competitiveness of Armenian goods as compared with the goods of other CIS countries. "A bright example of it is the aluminum foil, which is produced in Armenia and successfully exported to the EU. There will be no obstacles for trade with the EU when Armenia joins the Customs Union, because the GSP system implies unilateral, not bilateral trade terms", said the minister.