On June 27, 2025, in the city of Minsk, during the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state of the EAEU member countries, the Agreement on Economic Partnership between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, on one side, and the United Arab Emirates, on the other, as well as the Interim Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, on one side, and Mongolia, on the other, were signed.

Both international treaties constitute free trade agreements, providing for duty-free trade regimes between the parties.

As part of the agreement between the EAEU and the United Arab Emirates, the parties agreed to eliminate import customs duties on 85% of goods in mutual trade on a permanent basis. In addition to standard trade regulation provisions, the EAEU–UAE Agreement includes advanced provisions on cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, sectoral collaboration, small and medium-sized enterprises, among others. The elimination of import customs duties will be carried out gradually, over various transitional periods, to ensure a phased liberalization of mutual trade.

The agreement between the EAEU and Mongolia is an interim agreement with a limited product scope, establishing a preferential trade regime for 367 product lines of key export interest to both sides. The EAEU–Mongolia Agreement is concluded for a three-year period, with the possibility of extension for an additional three years upon mutual agreement.

Under the preferential trade regime with the UAE, Kazakhstani exporters will be able to supply a wide range of products duty-free, including beef and lamb, poultry, dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), eggs, honey, vegetables, legumes (peas, beans), apples, grains (wheat, barley, oats, rice), flour, cereals, vegetable oils (sunflower, rapeseed), confectionery and chocolate, juices, bottled water, as well as chemical products (polymers, plastic articles), fertilizers, paints, household chemicals (soap, detergents), wood and textile products (fabrics, knitwear, clothing), metallurgical products (ferroalloys, rolled steel, bars, angles, pipes, metal structures and products made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals), machinery and equipment, transformers, wires, and more.

Under the agreement with Mongolia, businesses will gain the opportunity to export products either at reduced import duty rates or duty-free, including under tariff quotas, for goods such as grains (wheat, barley, corn), poultry meat, dairy products (yogurts, cheese, butter), honey, vegetable oils (sunflower oil), sugar, chocolate and confectionery, bakery products, bottled water, juices, jams, alcoholic and tobacco products, and more. The agreement also covers metallurgical products (ferroalloys, rolled steel, bars, pipes), transformers, transport vehicles (locomotives, automobiles), and chemical industry products (polymers, plastic articles), among others.

The conclusion of these free trade agreements broadens Kazakhstan’s network of preferential trade arrangements, thereby diversifying its export markets. The establishment of duty-free trade regimes is expected to create favorable conditions for boosting Kazakhstani exports to partner countries and represents a significant step in strengthening trade and economic relations.

Reference:

• Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the UAE amounted to USD 55.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 48.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year (USD 37.4 million).

• Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Mongolia totaled USD 30.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 2.6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year (USD 29.3 million).

The agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Mongolia will enter into force upon ratification by all parties.