Finnish and Russian PMs discuss in Finland double-billing of customs duties

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The Prime Ministers of Finland and Russia, Matti Vanhanen (Centre) and Mikhail Fradkov, discussed the problem of double billing of customs duties in trade between the countries on Wednesday.
      At their meeting in Oulu, the two agreed that the issue should be handled between Russia and the European Union. "The problem of double billing in customs fees is disgraceful, and it needs to be corrected", Vanhanen said.
      Double billing refers to a practice in which goods exported from Finland to Russia are assigned a higher value on one side of the border than on the other. This means that someone is pocketing the difference.
      The two leaders largely focused on cooperation in innovations and technology.
     
Also coming out in the discussions between Vanhanen and Fradkov was that Russia plans to introduce export duties for timber, which would hurt Finnish wood importers somewhat.
      The two prime ministers saw the proposed 1,000 megawatt undersea electric cable between Russia and Finland to be a commercial project, and not a political issue. Vanhanen emphasised that the government would take a stand on the controversial project only if the Ministry for Trade and industry brings the application for the establishment of the connection to the government for consideration.
      Vanhanen said that there are no plans to divert gas to Finland from a planned natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany. "The energy industry is not interested in the capacity of this pipeline, because the present one will be sufficient for a fairly long time", Vanhanen said. He also added that Germany will convene a meeting of the Baltic Sea countries to assess the environmental impact of the gas pipeline.
     
One concrete proposal that came on Tuesday was made by Pentti Huuskonen, head of the Oulu Technopolis, who suggested cooperation in the development of a similar technology centre in St. Petersburg.
      The company already has a letter of intent on the matter with the City of St. Petersburg.
      Prime Minister Fradkov’s visit continues today, Wednesday, in Helsinki.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Russian Prime Minister on visit to Finland (18.4.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat