The Council of the European Union supported the temporary waiver of some import duties on goods from Armenia. The preferential regime, designed for two years, is intended to help Yerevan mitigate the impact of trade restrictions imposed by Russia while simultaneously expanding economic ties with the EU.

According to the Council of the EU, the new rules will affect approximately 80% of Armenian exports to the European market. The most significant changes are expected for suppliers of agricultural products. The duty-free regime will apply to 99% of fresh fruit, vegetables, and plant exports previously supplied to the Russian market.

Furthermore, the preferences will cover over 91% of beverage exports. This applies, in particular, to goods currently subject to import duties and tariff quotas.

To benefit from the preferential regime, Armenia will be required to comply with EU rules on the origin of goods, ensure the necessary administrative cooperation, and not impose import restrictions on products from the EU.

A separate condition remains compliance with key provisions of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the EU, including commitments on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. Brussels also provided for the possibility of limiting trade preferences if supplies of certain categories of goods from Armenia begin to create problems for European producers.

The proposal must now be considered by the European Parliament. A vote is expected in September, and once approved, the final approval process can be completed quickly.