Russians demand advance payment
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by Derren Hayes
• Trucks travelling to Russia are being held up at borders and sometimes refused entry because of a row over the TIR Carnet system.
Hauliers are being forced to make sure custom duty is paid in advance before their vehicles are allowed over the border. Cheltenham haulier Peter Gilder had seven of his fleet of 40 vehicles carrying mobile kitchens held up for a fortnight in St Petersburg. He says: "Every importer must now pay import duties into Russia at the borders but we will have to live with it to get the vehicles through."
Russia has introduced the law to reduce the money it loses through duty evasion.
The TIR system allows goods over borders without being inspected and with the duty being paid after delivery. Under these rules no other restriction on the transit of goods may be imposed by individual countries. The International Road Transport Union, which jointly runs TIR, is holding a meeting of its customs commission this week to decide what action to take against Russia.
The Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association say the goods hardest hit include agricultural items, milk products, chocolate and electrical parts.
"There will have to be some movement on the part of the IRU if Russia continues to stop people going in until the duties are paid," says the FTA. "Under those circumstances the carnet is worthless and hauliers may as well not be signed up to it."