Vagnorius urges support for exports

VILNIUS (ELTA) - Taking into account changes in the monetary and financial markets and import tax increases in Russia, Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius ordered the Economics Ministry to work out proposals on additional economic measures to facilitate exports of goods manufactured in Lithuania.

Vagnorius urged to apply measures to strengthen internal markets and support the interests of local producers, the Cabinet informed all press services.

The top Lithuanian newspaperLietuvos Rytas in its Aug. 24 issue stressed that exports of Lithuanian products to Russia have worsened. The reason is that Russia has applied an extra 3 percent customs duty on all imported goods; moreover the value added tax on imports has been increased from 8 to 20 percent.

The Lithuanian Industrialist Confederation's Vice President Mykolas Aleliunas gave a negative evaluation of the increase in customs duties, which made Lithuanian products less competitive in Russian markets.

Relying upon its information sources, Lietuvos Rytas reported there was no possibility of Russia signing a free trade agreement with Lithuania in the nearest future. As a result, local manufacturers railed at the Cabinet unable to protect local markets from imported products.