Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan: The Customs Union Agreement Deepens

Customs controls between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will be lifted July 1 in the final step of the implementation of the countries' customs union agreement before the creation of a common economic space. The move will synchronize Belarus' and Kazakhstan's comparatively low import duties with Russia's higher tariffs, making imports more expensive and drawing the Belarusian and Kazakh economies closer to Russia's. Russia is using the customs union to expand its influence — financially, but also politically and in the realm of security — in the region. Belarus and Kazakhstan are the first countries to feel its effects.