Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Proposes Kazakhstan Simplify Border Control for Sealed Transport

The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has proposed that Kazakhstan eliminate inspections and checks for sealed trucks at border crossings, Interfax reports. This initiative was voiced by Vladimir Padalko, Vice President of the Russian CCI, during the 20th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan. “When goods arrive from abroad, they enter Kazakhstan under seal, proceed to temporary storage warehouses in Russia, where they are rechecked, recalculated, customs duties and VAT are paid, and the goods are cleared for the market. Why then are intermediate inspections and checks needed at checkpoints?” Padalko questioned. According to the expert, removing such inspections would reduce transport and logistics costs, which currently account for up to 40% of goods' total cost. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has once again imposed a requirement for Russian transport companies conducting international shipments via trailer swapping to present a permit issued to the first carrier, who must be a European Union resident. Failure to provide such a permit can result in penalties under Article 573 of Kazakhstan's Code of Administrative Offenses. Drivers face fines of up to 150,000 rubles, and legal entities can be fined up to 375,000 rubles.