The government has imposed a ban on exports outside the customs territory of the Union

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has published the Resolution "On the introduction of a temporary ban on the export of timber and timber products from the Kyrgyz Republic outside the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union."
As sources in the government told "Business Eurasia," the document was adopted in accordance with Article 47 of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of May 29, 2014, Articles 13 and 17 of the Constitutional Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic."

The resolution may have both economic and political consequences. The document is based on the legal framework of the EAEU, and is a response to the acute problem of uncontrolled deforestation and the rapid depletion of the country's forest resources.

The ban comes into force 15 days after the official publication of the resolution and will last for six months. It affects a wide range of products falling under codes 4401, 4403 and 4407 of the EAEU codes of commodity-nomenclature documentation of foreign economic activity (CN FEA.

“In fact, this means that the export of almost all timber and sawn timber is completely banned, with the exception of cases expressly specified in the resolution,” says a source close to the Government. “An exception is provided only for humanitarian aid provided by the Cabinet. The resolution itself is an attempt to balance environmental goals with Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations to provide assistance in emergency situations. However, the selection criteria and control mechanisms for such deliveries require detailed development to avoid abuse.

“The decision on a temporary ban may raise serious questions among business representatives dependent on timber exports,” the source continues. – Many companies operating in this sector may face financial difficulties, loss of sales markets and job cuts.

Kyrgyzstan has a certain potential in the field of forestry and wood processing. There are a number of companies on the market specializing in the procurement, processing and sale of sawn timber.
Among the most notable are ALIMBEK-ATA, Pervaya Metallobaza, Abai Stroy, Arzanall. Lesoksklad and Temir Stroy, which specialize in the sale of sawn timber and related construction products, are actively operating in Bishkek.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is responsible for notifying the WTO Secretariat of the decision taken, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring transparency of government actions in the international arena.

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