Kazakhstan to support domestic car makers upon accession to WTO

Kazakhstan is working on a package of measures to support its car-making industry upon accession to the WTO, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Zhanel Kushukova, Director of the Foreign Trade Department of the National Economy Ministry.

Earlier the country’s media reported that as a WTO member state Kazakhstan is expecting prices for cars and certain goods to go down.

“Currently the nation is developing a set of measures to bolster its car-making industry (…) Some tax incentives and restrictions are to be introduced to prevent imports of earlier used vehicles from abroad (…) the measures seek to render support to car makers based in Kazakhstan”, she told a briefing at the Central Service for Public Communications.

She also emphasized that [upon accession] Kazakhstan would retain duties on major exports, notably petroleum products, metals and livestock products.

 “As you might know, there are some tariff-related restrictions on exports. During the talks with WTO member states Kazakhstan was able to retain the restrictions as they do not contradict the WTO norms.  Exports of petroleum products, metals and livestock products are of great importance to the national economy; therefore, such measures of protection are admissible”, she said.

July 27, 2015 Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo signed a protocol for Kazakhstan to join the WTO.