EAEU-Mongolia Interim Trade Agreement takes effect
Date of publication: July 24, 2026.
Summary
The Interim Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Mongolia entered into force on July 22, 2026. The agreement introduces reduced or zero customs duties for specified goods traded between Mongolia and the EAEU Member States - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia.
The preferential regime covers 367 commodity subheadings for each side and is intended to expand market access for agricultural, industrial and consumer goods. In addition to tariff preferences, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperation on technical regulation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs matters, electronic commerce and other trade-related issues.
Background
The EAEU and Mongolia signed the Interim Trade Agreement in Minsk on June 27, 2025, during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. The agreement was subsequently subject to the necessary internal procedures in Mongolia and the EAEU Member States. In May 2026, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) confirmed that the parties completed the procedures and that the agreement would enter into force on July 22, 2026.
The agreement is concluded for an initial period of three years and will be extended for a further three-year period unless the parties agree otherwise. Within one year after the end of the initial term, the parties will review the agreement with a view to simplifying procedures and expanding duty elimination and other trade-liberalizing measures.
Tariff preferences and product coverage
Beginning July 22, 2026, both parties are reducing or eliminating duties for 367 tariff subheadings. The agreement covers a broad range of goods and is expected to benefit both EAEU and Mongolian exporters, subject to compliance with the applicable tariff classification, rules of origin, customs documentation, and other requirements.
For EAEU suppliers, the agreement provides preferential conditions for exports to Mongolia of agricultural products including wheat, corn, dairy products, vegetable oils, meat and poultry products, sugar, confectionery, cheese, mineral water, and alcoholic beverages. Industrial goods identified by the EEC include metallurgical products, motor vehicles and components, railway equipment, polymers and plastics, tires, nitrogen fertilizers, and medicines.
Mongolian exporters may receive preferential access to the EAEU market for selected products, including horse meat, beef, mutton, processed meat products, dairy products, wool, yarn, cashmere, leather, and certain knitted and textile apparel. Russian trade representatives have also highlighted Mongolia's potential to supply meat, cashmere, leather, and wool to the Russian market under the new framework.
Expected commercial impact
According to the EEC, the tariff preferences cover more than 90% of EAEU exports to Mongolia, representing approximately USD 2 billion in export supplies. The Commission has estimated that the agreed preferences could enable EAEU companies to save up to USD 100 million annually.
For Russia, the Ministry of Economic Development has indicated that the preferential regime could cover approximately 90% of mutual Russia-Mongolia trade. Interfax reported that 89% of Russian exports to Mongolia may be supplied duty-free under the agreement and that average Mongolian duties on covered goods could decline from 6% to 0.2%. The estimated annual savings for Russian businesses are up to RUB 8 billion.
The agreement may also support deeper commercial cooperation in sectors such as energy, industrial production, construction materials, chemicals, and transport infrastructure. Russian representatives have identified these sectors as areas with potential for further development in bilateral trade and investment.
Customs, origin and non-tariff provisions
The agreement is not limited to tariff concessions. It includes provisions on technical regulation, sanitary, veterinary, and phytosanitary measures, customs cooperation, electronic commerce and economic cooperation. These provisions are intended to reduce non-tariff barriers and provide a more predictable operational environment for importers and exporters.
Businesses seeking preferential treatment should confirm that their products are included in the relevant tariff schedules and meet the agreement's origin requirements. Importers should also ensure that origin evidence, classification, valuation and customs-declaration processes are aligned with the agreement's requirements before claiming reduced or zero duty rates.
Conclusion
The entry into force of the EAEU-Mongolia Interim Trade Agreement on July 22, 2026 establishes a new preferential-trade framework between Mongolia and the five EAEU Member States. The agreement creates potential duty savings across a defined range of agricultural and industrial goods, while also creating a platform for broader customs and regulatory cooperation.
Companies trading between Mongolia and the EAEU should review their product portfolios, tariff classifications, origin qualification and supporting customs documentation to determine whether their transactions are eligible for preferential treatment.
These updates have already been published in ONESOURCE Global Trade Content. For more information on how ONESOURCE Global Trade solutions can assist you in managing import charges, contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.