Draft customs tariff policy priorities for 2014 and the 2015-2016 planning period were considered at a Government meeting on May 16, 2013.

In 2014-2016, the implementation of the customs tariff policy will be closely linked with fulfilling priority objectives in the field of economic diversification and increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of national production facilities, which is necessary to succeed in the global marketplace.

The customs tariff measures are aimed at  modernising and increasing the efficiency of Russian industrial and agricultural production sectors, which could in the future increase the export potential of the economy, including in nanotechnology, nuclear energy, engineering, microelectronics, optoelectronics, electronics, biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, etc., and to strengthen the country's food security.

The fulfillment of Russia’s WTO obligations will have a decisive influence on the level of import customs duties. By 2016, average customs duty levels will decrease from 8.5% to 6% for industrial goods and from 11.2% to 8.7% for food products.

Despite a general reduction in customs barriers, specific levels for various categories of goods will be changed in accordance with various deadlines, which will create the prerequisites for the gradual adaptation of Russia's economic sectors to the new conditions.

One of the most important customs policy objectives is to increase the efficiency of customs administration. Efforts to improve law enforcement practice remain an important aspect of this. Achieving this objective is made more difficult by the need to simultaneously standardise customs regulations with the member states of the Customs Union. To solve this problem a Government directive has approved an action plan (roadmap) Improving Customs Administration. When implemented, this document will make it possible to reduce specific deadlines and the number of documents needed to conduct customs operations, ensure inter-departmental electronic cooperation and expedite the issuing of permits. An important aspect of the Customs Union’s customs tariff policy in the medium term is for the Custom Union to assume a more active role in the international trade system in order to benefit from the expansion of trade and better access to foreign markets.

The expansion of the Preferential Trade Area through the signing of free trade agreements is a key objective of the Customs Union’s trade policy. Free trade agreements should primarily be signed in order to achieve significant economic benefits for Russian companies and the country as a whole through increased access to foreign markets and by attracting advanced technologies.