Decree No. UP-174: currency restrictions on foreign trade lifted from 1 September, fees down 30% from October

Presidential Decree No. UP-174 of 27 August 2026 "On improving the work of the state customs service bodies" took effect on 1 September and removes three restrictions that had tied the hands of foreign trade participants for years.

From 1 September the following are abolished: the cap on advance payments to a foreign counterparty for imports made on an invoice without a foreign trade contract; the requirement to secure an advance payment of 50% of the proceeds for exports on an invoice without a contract; and the requirement of an advance payment or guaranteed forms of payment for exports of goods in the national currency.

From 1 October 2026, low-risk foreign trade participants holding a valid VAT payer certificate may offset VAT paid on imported goods. From the same date, fees for customs clearance, phytosanitary certificates, fumigation and certificates of origin fall by 30%.

From 1 January 2027 customs value control for low-risk importers moves to the post-release stage, and official distributor prices may be used when determining value. From 1 June 2027 minor discrepancies in a certificate of origin that do not affect the nature of the goods will no longer be grounds for refusal, and duty refund applications will be processed centrally in electronic form.

What this means in practice: invoice-based deals without a foreign trade contract no longer require currency security — review your contract templates and settlement terms with foreign partners, and budget 30% less for customs clearance from October.

Photo: Håkan Dahlström, Flickr (CC BY 2.0)