The leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries are expected to approve the start of negotiation over the creation of a Free Trade Area (FTA) with Tunisia at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Council later this week According to the Russian news agency Interfax.
“In regard to international agenda, decisions are expected on starting talks with Tunisia, about signing a free trade agreement, and with Serbia, about making changes to the free trade agreement,” Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told journalists on Tuesday ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kazakhstan.
The EAEU already has free trade agreements with Vietnam, Singapore, Serbia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Mongolia and Indonesia, and held the first round of talks with India over trade liberation, the aide said.
“Discussions about a possibility of signing a free trade agreement with Egypt are underway. There are plans to hold consultations between the commission and representatives from Jordan, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and South Africa. The question of whether similar agreements should be signed with Nigeria and Ethiopia is also on the agenda,” Ushakov said.
Putin’s state visit to Astana is scheduled for May 27-28. The Russian president is expected to attend a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Council and a plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum taking place in the Kazakh capital these days.
