EAEU Expands Transit Corridors

During the forum "Transport Corridors of Eurasia – New Horizons and Opportunities" held in Moscow on December 5, Kuat Rakhimov, the Director of the Department of Customs Legislation and Law Enforcement Practice at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), announced that four out of the five member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union—Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia—have ratified the agreement on the unified customs transit system. “Kazakhstan has essentially completed the process; we’re now awaiting an official note confirming ratification. The Mazhilis and the Senate have already approved the draft agreement,” he said.

The agreement, signed nearly a year ago on December 26, 2024, aims to establish seamless transportation logistics through bilateral agreements between the EAEU and its neighboring countries. "The initiative focuses on accelerating and lowering transportation costs through the integration of digital technologies, which will also reduce the risk of delivery errors—an aspect that is particularly crucial for the end user," the EEC stated. It entails, in particular, the implementation of a unified electronic transit declaration that will be applicable across the entire EAEU, along with a standardized framework for the payment of taxes and fees.

Navigation seals from third countries that have entered into relevant agreements will also be recognized within the Eurasian Union. The use of these seals for transporting excise goods within the EAEU will become mandatory starting February 11. At the second stage, this requirement will extend to products from the light industry, and at the third stage, it will encompass all transported goods.

As Kuat Rakhimov stated, Uzbekistan has expressed interest in joining the unified customs transit system, and discussions are currently underway. The EEC also aims to engage China in collaborative efforts, with this initiative progressing through the bilateral subcommittee on customs cooperation. "It would be highly beneficial if there were interest from the Chinese side, as China is currently one of the largest partners for all EAEU countries," acknowledges Kuat Rakhimov.

Uzbekistan's interest in simplifying the customs regime with the EAEU is easily understandable, as nearly all of the country's foreign trade relies on transit through EAEU member states. "For instance, foreign investors involved in the Yangi Tashkent (New Tashkent) project have done so by focusing primarily on transit routes, including those through Russia," said Alevtina Kirillova, General Director of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization Eurasian Agrologistics.

Even during the development stage of the agreement, experts highlighted the inherent integration potential it embodies. Nikita Pyzhikov, the head of the Center for Economic Integration at the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade, forecasted that transit cargo flows would increase by 7-10% in the initial years following its implementation. "This will facilitate operations for large exporters and logistics operators in third-country markets. In this context, Russia is reinforcing its position as a transit hub," he noted.

"The EAEU agreement on a unified customs transit system with third countries will enhance the transit potential of not only the Russian Federation but also other member states of the Eurasian Union," says Dmitry Baranov, a leading expert at Finam Management. "This agreement holds particular significance for Russia, especially amid the country’s pivot towards trade with Eastern and Southern nations, coupled with ongoing external restrictions. It is expected to reduce border delays, boost the competitiveness of transportation corridors through the EAEU compared to alternative routes, and reinforce Russia's standing in the landscape of Eurasian integration," predicts the analyst.

Dmitry Baranov believesthat the choice of Uzbekistan and China as priority partners is perfectly logical. Uzbekistan, as a strategic neighbor in Central Asia, will facilitate logistics within the CIS and enhance trade turnover between the countries China, being the largest trading partner of the EAEU, will boost transit through Russia and the union as a whole, thereby strengthening economic ties.

Dmitry Koptev