Belarus & Russia: Belarus to lift restrictions on Russia's beer imports from Mar.1

Belarus said it will lift its restrictions on imports of Russia beer as of March 1, RIA Novosti reported February 7.

Belarus put quotas on Russian beer in February 2003 to protect the domestic brewery industry. Many experts said Russian-made beer was of higher quality, while prices were similar for brewery products produced in both ex-Soviet republics.

Trade relations between the traditional allies have been complicated recently by a host of issues, in particular an energy row at the beginning of the year.

Russia and Belarus declared their intention in 1997 to build a Union State envisaging a common economic, customs and political space, but the negotiations have stalled.

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