15 march 2024 — 16:00
The Government of Belarus imposes a ban on the import of certain goods through the Belarusian-Lithuanian section of the state border. The corresponding resolution was signed by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Sputnik Belarus writes.
"The following goods are prohibited for import for sale and consumption on the territory of Belarus: water, beer, wine, grape must, vermouth, other fermented beverages, ethyl alcohol, vinegar, pneumatic rubber tires and tires, clothing and other used products, as well as used parts and accessories of vehicles", - the message of the departmental telegram channel says.
It emphasizes that the introduction of an import ban is "a response to Lithuania's decision to stop the movement of goods, transport and people through two border checkpoints."
In turn, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that Minsk had decided to introduce previously announced forced measures in response to the unfriendly actions of Vilnius to close checkpoints on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.
They clarified that the resolution of the Council of Ministers of March 14 established a ban on the import of certain goods from Lithuania, including food, construction products and household appliances.
And by a separate decision of the government, also dated March 14, a ban was imposed on the movement through checkpoints on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border of a number of goods imported for sale on the territory of Belarus, regardless of their country of origin. This list includes used clothing and spare parts for vehicles, as well as tires, alcoholic beverages and other goods.
With the adoption of the latest document, the import flow of goods will be able to enter Belarus only via alternative routes bypassing the territory of Lithuania, the Foreign Ministry stressed. This, they noted, will have a negative impact on the work of numerous Lithuanian logistics operators and will lead to a significant loss of their income due to a significant reduction in trade turnover.
"We note that these prohibitions do not affect goods imported into the territory of the Republic of Belarus for personal use," the Foreign Ministry noted.