Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission took a decision on reduction of import customs duties for light electro vehicles from 17% to zero value. The decision has come into force from September 2, 2016 and be in effect until September 2017.

According to this decision, import customs duties for cargo electro vehicles gross weight up to 5 tons were reduced from 15% to 5%.

Such benefits for green transport do not apply to the automobiles with hybrid engines and plugged hybrids.

Earlier, from February 2014 to December 2015, zero rate of import customs duty for electromobiles in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) was already in operation. This stimulated import of electromobiles in some way, taking into account their relative expensiveness. For example, in 2015 a little less than 700 electromobiles were imported to the EEU countries. However, after expiration date of zero rate, import has 6 times reduced, and for the first four months of 2016 about 30 electromobiles were imported.

Currently, there is about a million electromobiles around the globe. Herewith the fleet of such vehicles is increasing about 80%. The largest increase is observed in the USA, Japan, Norway and Sweden.

Meanwhile, in Russia figures remain low. In 2015 about 120 electromobiles were sold. On the beginning of January 2016 the park of electromobiles did not exceed 650 items, mostly – in Moscow, and a few items – in Primorsky and Krasnodar territories, in Samara and Moscow regions.

You can lean the financial indicators of the largest auto dealers in Russia by reading our publication of June 6, 2016.

According to experts, decrease in import customs duties for electromobiles causes decrease in cost and, consequently, increase of its number in the country. The Regulation of the Government of Russia is also aimed at the stimulation of electric transport development. According to the Regulation, up to November 1, 2016, all gasoline stations must be equipped with charging devices for electromobiles.

From the one side, the European Union as international formation with standard legal system covering all EU-countries makes a contribution to regional integration and implementation of Four Freedoms for member-countries: free movement of goods, freedom of movement for workers, right of establishment and freedom to provide services, free movement of capital. From another side, the EU today has serious problems allowing to speak about the possibility of its collapse. Some of these problems:

• rush EU expansion through accession of states, led to the violation of established stability of the “old world” countries;
• incompleteness of normative base and gap from today’s realities resulted in non-discussion of many fundamental direction in due time;
• continuing world crises led to strengthening the contradictions among EU members; it also does not allow to choose behavior model of supporting each other in this period;
• it is more frequently spoken about over-regulation within the Union, forcing the certain countries’ interests, solving serious problems by means of other members.

Probably that is why in June 2016 Great Britain hold a referendum concerning exit from the EU (so-called Brexit) and 51,9% voted to leave it. Dissociation with the EU will lead to loss of simple access to the European financial market. As far as many participants entered the market through London, this channel may soon be interrupted.

Accumulated problems complicate relations in and out the Union, especially in the financial sector, and intercept entering the EU markets. Being a non-member of the EU and included in the Schengen zone, Switzerland will have some difficulties in Great Britain in the near future due to its exit, because Swiss banks are closely connected with the London City. Considered as tough competitors for Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong are under limitation concerning access to the financial markets.

Willing to save its possibilities of being one of the world’s financial centers, Switzerland suggested Great Britain, Singapore and Hong Kong to be formed into financial alliance. The aims are as follows: forming up the dialogue on the role of financial sector; creation of jurisdictions union able to follow industry system of credit and insurance institutions cooperation; development of international standards of activity; joint lobbying of common interests; solving of problem of access to international markets, including the European Union.

This alliance, which is already called F4, will also be of interest to Russia and the country can join it. Sanctions imposed by the USA, EU and a number of other countries against Russia have limited trade, crediting and investment on their territories. Entering the alliance will allow to protect own interests with common efforts, to suggest reasonable changes, solve issues on access to the markets of the EU and other regions.