RBC: The Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Industry and Trade propose to reduce the duty-free threshold for the import of parcels

The government continues to actively discuss a new level of duty-free threshold for the import of goods from abroad by individuals, which now stands at 1,000 euros. The opinions of relevant departments on this issue were divided, writes RBC.

The duty-free threshold of 1,000 euros (everything above is taxed at 15% of the value of the parcel) has been extended twice by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) at the initiative of the Russian side. The measure was adopted last spring to support citizens in the face of sanctions and to avoid shortages of essential goods. If the issue of extending the measure is not initiated by the Russian Federation, the threshold will automatically be reduced to 200 euros.

According to sources of the publication, the FCS and the Ministry of Finance are in favor of returning the limit to 200 euros, while the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Federal Antimonopoly Service offer a more compromise option – 500 euros. This issue, as noted, was discussed at a meeting of the working group on customs and tariff regulation in the Ministry of Economic Development.

Another source, in turn, clarified that the FAS has not yet made a final decision, but is in favor of maintaining competition and expanding the product offer. The Ministry of Industry and Trade also told RBC that they are still forming their position. A representative of the Ministry of Economics said that the department will send to the Cabinet of Ministers “proposals on the advisability of extending the increased limits for duty-free import of electronic commerce goods.”

The marketplaces interviewed by the publication fear that lowering the duty-free online shopping limit will lead to a decrease in purchasing power. “As a result, many people may refuse to buy such goods, as the cost will be higher than they can afford,” an Ozon spokesperson said.

IN “Yandex Market added that 66% of buyers buy goods from foreign sellers primarily because of their more affordable cost, and 47% are in favor of maintaining the possibility of buying goods through cross-border trade.

As Vedomosti wrote in June, the authorities fear that the extension of the duty-free threshold of 1,000 euros for the import of goods from abroad by individuals may hinder the development of domestic production. The line ministries are therefore inclined not to initiate the maintenance of the current threshold after October 1, in which case it will be reduced to 200 euros.

During the period of validity of the specified increased duty-free threshold from April 2022 to May 2023, about 2.25 million parcels worth from 200 to 1000 euros were imported to individuals, a representative of the Federal Customs Service told Vedomosti at the time. The amount of conditional shortfalls in the federal budget amounted to 3.09 billion rubles, he added.