The chairman of Armenia's State Revenue Committee (SRC) Edward Hovhannisyan warned citizens against trying to smuggle Turkish goods into the country. SRC chairman's warning comes as Georgia reopened its land borders from June 1.
In late April the Armenian government said it was not going to reconsider its decision on banning imports of Turkish goods indicating it could extend it for another six months.
Armenian government's six-month ban on import of Turkish goods imposed during the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh, came into force on January 1, 2021.
SRC chairman's warning comes as Georgia reopened its land borders from June 1. According to Hovhannisyan, the ban is in effect, including goods for personal use. According to him, suitcases and personal belongings of passengers entering Armenia from Georgia will be checked in case of suspicion of illegal import, local media arka.am reports.
Regarding Armenian farmers' complaints that Turkish vegetables are being imported from Georgia and Iran, creating stronger competition for them, Hovhannisyan said apart from the government's ban, there is also a government decision on the procedures for imports of Turkish goods only for the purpose of subsequent re-export.
“We check all cases when it is possible to identify the goods and accompanying documentation. If Turkish products are identified, their import is banned and if there is no suspicion, they are allowed in as the customs authorities cannot determine the country of origin by outward appearance," Hovhannisyan said.
According to Armenian government data, the country imported $268 million worth of Turkish-manufactured products in 2019 and $178 million worth of Turkish goods in January-October 2020, 15% down year on year.
More precisely, $69.4 million worth clothing, $10.3 million worth citrus fruit, $35.2 million worth cars, equipment and mechanisms (electric heaters, refrigerators, etc.), $24.3 million worth oil and oil products, $23.6 million worth chemicals and $21.6 million worth base metals.
There are no diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia: official Ankara closed the border in 1993 out of solidarity with Azerbaijan. Turkey also overreacts to international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Empire.
