YEREVAN. – Armenia will ask Customs Union to exempt key commodities from customs duties, Economy Minister Vahram Avanesyan said in the parliament.

The list of goods has not been submitted to the Russian side, as the talks with Armenian businessmen are underway, he explained.

“The lists of goods for which customs duties may change are published on our website. There is the list comparing the current duties and the proposed duties of the Customs Union. Hence, we can calculate the maximum possible inflation,” Avanesyan told lawmakers.

The list of exemptions can include pharmaceuticals, chicken and some commodities.

“As for gasoline, by recent intergovernmental agreements with Russia, Armenian importers can receive petroleum products without duties imposed by Russia,” he added.

Given these rates, the maximum increase in customs duties in Armenia will be $ 140-145 million.

Avanesyan stressed that Russia has a duty reduction schedule till 2015, 2017 and 2020.  Thus, the duties for the Customs Union will reduce, too.