Belarus sets up customs posts on Russia’s border as trade dispute escalates
By APWednesday, June 17, 2009
Belarus sets up customs posts on Russia’s border
REDKI, Belarus — Belarus has set up customs posts on its border with Russia for the first time in 14 years as a trade dispute between the two countries escalates.
Belarusian customs officials say as of Wednesday morning all cargo coming from Russia is subject to new rules, including more stringent inspections. About 30 customs officers have been deployed on the border, including at Redki on the main Russia-Belarus highway.
But during the first several hours of the day, they took no visible action and trucks passed through freely on their way to Europe.
Belarus has not had customs posts on its border with Russia since 1995.
The step came in response to Russia’s banning of Belarusian dairy products, one of the former Soviet republic’s main exports.
