Belarus is interested in getting rules of trade between the Customs Union member states and other countries liberalized. The statement was made by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei as he met with Andrei Slepnev, member of the Board (Minister) for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry reports.

At the meeting Vladimir Makei and Andrei Slepnev exchanged views regarding the global trends of trade liberalization and mentioned tendencies for signing bilateral and regional free trade agreements.
The parties discussed the work the Customs Union member states are doing to sign agreements on free trade with some foreign states and their associations. In turn, Vladimir Makei noted that the openness of the Belarusian economy determines Belarus’ interest in advancing trade and investment ties, liberalizing the Customs Union’s trade regime with other nations, including highly developed ones, but on the basis of mutual compromise and benefits. The Belarusian Foreign Minister hailed the start of substantive deliberation of the creation of a free trade zone with Israel, with which Belarus is connected by multilateral cooperation.

The sides also spoke about the current situation in advancing Eurasian integration, the challenges the Customs Union faces due to the Ukrainian crisis, and other matters within the competence of the Eurasian Economic Commission. At the end Andrei Slepnev stressed that Belarus is truly an adherent of integration. He said he was satisfied with the existing productive cooperation with the Belarusian side and with the high qualification of Belarusian experts.