Armenia`s Cabinet approves partnership agreement with UAE, EAEU

ArmInfo.  On November 14, at a regular meeting, the Armenian government approved the ratification of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eurasian Economic  Union (EAEU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed on June 27,  2025.

It entered into force on June 23, 2025, and provides preferential  access to each other's markets, including for agricultural and  industrial products of the EAEU, as well as for certain consumer  goods from the UAE.

According to the document, the purpose of the Agreement is to  liberalize and simplify trade in goods between the Parties, including  by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, supporting trade and  economic cooperation between the Parties, and stimulating the  expansion of trade turnover between the Parties.

The Agreement regulates a wide range of economic cooperation issues,  including legal and horizontal obligations, simplification and  promotion of mutual trade, domestic market protection, customs  regulation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers  to trade, government procurement, e-commerce, and related matters.

The Agreement places particular emphasis on cooperation between small  and medium-sized businesses, as well as obligations to promptly  inform them of the opportunities created by the Agreement and  applicable regulations.

As a result of the Agreement, EAEU member states will receive  preferential access to 86% of their product range, with exports to  the United Arab Emirates accounting for 98% of the Eurasian Economic  Union's exports.

Exports from the Republic of Armenia to the UAE will be granted  preferential terms for 95% of the current export volume, with the  remaining 5% not covered by the benefits. This primarily concerns  cigarettes and tobacco substitutes, copper ore, alcoholic beverages,  alcoholic chocolate, and juices. Tobacco and alcoholic beverages are  systematically excluded from the list of goods whose import is  prohibited under all free trade agreements to which the UAE is a  party.

Starting in 2023, 217 of the 270 goods exported from Armenia to the  UAE will receive preferential access after the Agreement enters into  force. As a result, while maintaining export volumes, Armenian  exporters will receive direct subsidies of approximately $500,000,  while the average customs duty on products exported from Armenia to  the UAE will decrease from 6% to 2.6%.

The attached lists of goods for which the Parties are willing to  grant tariff preferences are also an integral part of the Agreement.  The proposals submitted by the Armenian side primarily include those  goods of primary interest to the Republic of Armenia for export.  Regarding agricultural products, the proposals submitted by the  Armenian side primarily include those products of primary interest to  the Republic of Armenia for export, specifically: other fresh fruits,  including strawberries, wild strawberries, etc., lactose, fresh  tomatoes, fruit juices, honey, jams, mineral water with sugar, live  plants, apples, apricots, sauces, etc.

Overall, the volume of agricultural exports from Armenia to the UAE  for the above-mentioned products exceeds USD 1.5 million. The UAE  market for these products is estimated at approximately USD 550  million, while Armenia's export potential is at least USD 10 million.

It is noted that the untapped export potential is quite significant  and can be realized after the Agreement enters into force. The  selection of industrial goods was also carried out according to the  above-mentioned principle and includes products such as aluminum  foil, aluminum alloys, medical devices, electronic equipment, other  furniture, radio broadcasting equipment, etc.

Overall, the volume of industrial exports from Armenia to the UAE for  the above-mentioned products exceeds USD 9.5 million. The UAE market  for these products is estimated at USD 51 billion, while Armenia's  export potential is at least USD 25 million.

The untapped export potential is quite significant and can be  realized after the Agreement enters into force.

With regard to industrial goods, the main product of interest to the  Republic of Armenia is jewelry (EAEU HS code 7113 19 10), which has  received duty-free access to the UAE market. Tariff protection for  other non-industrial diamonds (EAEU HS code 7102 39) is retained in  the EAEU export list. Thus, the interests of the Republic of Armenia  in the jewelry industry have been fully taken into account.