Russia , Belarus and Kazakhstan

The legal framework of the Customs Union is based on international agreements and protocols executed by the member states, as well as on customs rules, regulations and resolutions adopted and approved by the authorized bodies of the Customs Union. Membership in the Customs Unit is conditioned upon accession to all valid agreements of the Customs Union. The Customs Code is one of the major legal instruments of the Customs Union and it is based on the model of the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention).

Most of the Customs Union procedural rules (such as procedures and deadlines for the performance of certain actions, rules relating to document forms, instructions for the completion of customs declarations, etc.) are set forth by the Customs Union Commission. Any unresolved dispute or controversy between the member-states related to the Customs Union can be submitted to the jurisdiction of the Economic Court of the Commonwealth of the Independent States (CIS) in its capacity as the Court of the Eurasian Economic Community.

Unified Customs Non-Tariff Regulations of the Customs Union, allow to impose certain economic proscriptions and limitations on the cross-border trade activities in the Customs Union territory, such as quantitative restrictions, exclusive export and/or import rights with respect to certain goods, expert supervision, foreign trade licensing and special foreign trade constraints (including such constraints imposed for the purposes of compliance with certain international sanctions and/or for protection of the legitimate national interests of the member states, such as homeland security and public health). They determine unified customs duties for imported and exported goods.

Moreover, in order to prevent import of counterfeited goods into the territory of the Customs Union the Customs Code of the Customs Union provides for setting up a unified register for intellectual property rights, where the participants of the trade activities will be required to register trade names and trademarks relating to the goods transferred.

Despite the adoption of the Customs Code and numerous Custom Union rules and protocols, at present many aspects of customs activities are still carried out on the basis of the national regulations and standards which remain in force in the member states. The customs control on the borders between the member states has not been abolished. According to the implementation plan, Customs Union regulations should be introduced into and eventually replace the corresponding national rules and standards currently in effect in each member state.

 The work for the development and implementation of the new Customs Union rules, regulations and policies was processed with the target to make the Customs Union fully operational in January 2011.

Companies operating in the field of foreign trade on the territory of the Customs Union should take into consideration changes in the local legislation, regulations and customs practices, which might substantially affect their commercial activities, and be prepared to comply with the Customs Union regime once it becomes fully operational.

WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the topic of the article.

b. Read the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

c. Read the text. Get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text pick out the sentences containing the key words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING: Read and translate the text “Customs legislation of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan”.

Ex.4. T EXT QUESTIONS: Look back at the text and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

Ex.5. CHAT: Discuss with your classmates the key ideas of the text.

Ex.6. INTERNET: Find in the Internet the information about the Customs Legislation of other existing Customs Unions (CU). Compare your findings.

Ex.7. CUSTOMS LEGISLATION DISCUSSION: Discuss with your partner the differences in Customs Legislation of the CU between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Customs Legislation of other CU.

Ex.8. VOCABULARY: Circle the words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

Ex.9. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations with each word.

Ex.10. PRESENTATION: Prepare a computer presentation on Customs Legislation of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

GRAMMAR REVISION

Ex.1. TRANSITIONAL WORDS QUIZ:
Quiz description: This quiz will help you see if you understand what a transitional word or phrase looks like.

1 : Which of these sentences contains a transitional phrase?
a) Elephants have enormous ears that they use to fan themselves.
b) Elephants have tusks.
c) In addition, elephants have enormous ears that they use to fan themselves.
d) Answers b and c are correct.
e) Answers a and b are correct.

2 : Which word or phrase would fit best? I forgot to do my homework. _____________, I have nothing to turn in today.
a) In addition
b) For example
c) However
d) As a result
e) Except

3 : Which word or phrase fits best in the blank? I love to eat apples, oranges, bananas, and kiwi. _____________, I enjoy fruit.
a) In other words
b) Furthermore
c) Above all
d) Aside from
e) In the first place

WORKING ON THE ARTICLE