Russia asked Turkey to consider the possibility of reducing import customs duties on chemical products, including polyethylene and polypropylene, TASS reported citing Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky.

“On plastics, polyethylene, propylene,” he said, answering the question, will Russia ask Turkey to reduce duties on chemical products.

Turkey is one of the main foreign economic partners of Russia. According to the Federal Customs Service, the foreign trade turnover between Russia and Turkey amounted to USD15.84 billion in 2016, including Russian exports – USD13.7 billion, imports – USD2.2 billion.

In Kazan, from 19 to 21 October, there is a meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Turkish commission on trade and economic cooperation. On Saturday, the meeting of the commission will be held directly, following which bilateral documents will be signed. The Russian side will be attended by the chairman of the Russian part of the commission, the Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, from the Turkish side – the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Turkey, Nihat Zeibecchi.

Earlier it became known that the protocol between Gazprom and Turkey on the dryland section of the “Turkish flow” is planned to be concluded before the end of the year. In addition, Ankara gave Gazprom a positive opinion on the environmental impact report for the last section of the Turkish Stream project near the Turkish coast.