In particular, according to Yaroslav Pryhara, CEO of Avtokapital, the official importer of Mercedes-Benz cars in Ukraine, the reason for the 'customs troubles' lies in a new decree, according to which the importer was required to increase the declared value of imported cars.
The governor of the Odesa region also confirms the paradoxical nature of the situation:
'Ignoring the importers' hopes for fair customs duties, the Prime Minister signed Resolution No. 742, according to which all goods are now cleared not at their actual value, but at a price determined by the State Fiscal Service. Today, clearance at all customs offices is paralyzed,' reports Mykhailo Saakashvili on Facebook in a post titled 'A new wave of corruption under the guise of reforms.'
It should be noted that recently Ukraine abolished special duties on foreign cars. Many believed and hoped that thanks to this, new cars, albeit not by much, would become cheaper. Given the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution, it seems not unlikely that everything will be exactly the opposite - the requirement to increase the declared value, which even the official importer received from the factory contract, may lead to higher retail prices for cars.
