View source for Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area

{{Infobox Geopolitical organisation
| name = Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area
| linking_name = the Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area
| symbol_type = 
| image_symbol = 
| image_map = CISFTA (orthographic projection).svg
| map_width = 220px
| map_caption = 
| org_type = [[Free trade area]]
| membership_type = Member states
| membership = [[Russia]]<br>[[Ukraine]]<br>[[Belarus]]<br>[[Uzbekistan]]<br>[[Moldova]]<br>[[Armenia]]<br>[[Kyrgyzstan]]<br>[[Kazakhstan]]
| admin_center_type = 
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| languages_type = 
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| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
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| established_event1 = Free trade agreement signed
| established_date1 = 18 October 2011
| established_event2 = Free Trade Area established
| established_date2 = {{nowrap|20 September 2012}}
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}}

'''Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area''' ('''CISFTA''') is a [[free trade area]] between [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Moldova]], [[Armenia]], [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Kazakhstan]]. Five CISFTA participants, all except Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Moldova are members of the [[Eurasian Economic Union]], comprising a single economic market.

The [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] Free Trade Zone Agreement, proposed since the breakup of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991, was signed on 18 October 2011 by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova and Armenia.<ref>[http://en.rian.ru/russia/20111018/167833875.html CIS leaders sign free trade deal], 2011-10-18</ref> The agreement replaced existing bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements between the countries, although the ex-Soviet states of [[Azerbaijan]], [[Turkmenistan]] & [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] have not signed the agreement. Initially, the treaty was only ratified by Ukraine,<ref>[http://112.international/politics/Ukraine-and-Canada-completed-a-free-trade-agreement-179.html Ukraine and Canada completed a free trade agreement, July 15, 2015], 2011-07-15</ref> Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Kazakhstan,<ref>[http://www.odessatalk.com/2014/09/russias-duma-ratifies-eurasian-economic-union/ Russia’s Duma ratifies Eurasian Economic Union], odessatalk.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.usubc.org/site/member-news/cis-free-trade-agreement-comes-into-force CIS Free Trade Agreement comes into force; Baker & McKenzi, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, October 18, 2012], 2011-10-18</ref> however in December 2013 Uzbekistan signed and then ratified the treaty.<ref>[http://de.ria.ru/business/20131228/267562853.html ''Usbekistan: Protokoll über Beitritt zur GUS-Freihandelszone in Kraft getreten'', de.ria.ru 28th December 2013.]</ref> Kyrgyzstan has ratified the treaty with effect from 12 January 2014,<ref>[http://www.azernews.az/region/65752.html Uzbekistan joins CIS free trade zone], azernews.az. Retrieved 23 December 2014.</ref> while Tajikistan was reported in 2014 to be close to completing the ratification process.<ref>[http://www.bilaterals.org/?cis-fta-effective-for-kyrgyzstan CIS FTA effective for Kyrgyzstan from 12 January 2014], bilaterals.org. Retrieved on 23 December 2014.</ref> 

==European Union–Ukraine trade agreement controversy==
From 1 January 2016, Ukraine and the European Union started provisionally applying a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Member states of the [[Eurasian Economic Union]] held consultations on 22 December 2015 to discuss the implications of the agreement concerning the possible duty-free transit of EU goods into the EEU via Ukraine. The states agreed to implement a provisional scheme later in 2016 that would impose customs checks on goods entering the EEU from Ukraine; and long term, to establish a common information system to control all imports into the EEU's customs area.<ref>[http://eng.belta.by/economics/view/belarus-russia-kazakhstan-work-out-provisional-scheme-to-control-transit-via-ukraine-87856-2015/ Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan work out provisional scheme to control transit via Ukraine], Belarus News. Retrieved 4 January 2016.</ref> Nonetheless, Russia signed a decree in mid-December 2015 suspending its CIS Free Trade Agreement with respect to Ukraine from 1 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurasianbusinessbriefing.com/russia-suspends-fta-with-ukraine/|work=Eurasian Business Briefing|title=Russia suspends FTA with Ukraine as EU agreement looms|date=17 December 2015|accessdate=24 December 2015}}</ref> In late December, the Ukrainian Government responded by passing trade restrictions on Russia, with effect from 2 January 2016.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/01/c_134970543.htm Spotlight: EU-Ukraine trade deal triggers new round of economic clashes], news.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.</ref> Agreements between Ukraine and other EEU states within the free trade area remain in effect.

==Signature and ratification==
{{Supranational PostSoviet Bodies|size=300px|align=right}}
An overview of signatures and ratifications is shown below:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! State !! Signature !! Entry into Force !! Comment
|-
| Armenia || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|17 October 2012}} || [[Eurasian Economic Union]] member
|-
| Belarus || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|20 September 2012}} || [[Eurasian Economic Union]] member
|-
| Kazakhstan  || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|8 December 2012}} || [[Eurasian Economic Union]] member
|-
| Kyrgyzstan  || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|13 December 2013}} || [[Eurasian Economic Union]] member
|-
| Moldova  || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|9 December 2012}} || 
|-
| Russia  || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|20 September 2012}} || [[Eurasian Economic Union]] member
|-
| Tajikistan  || {{dts|18 October 2011}} ||  || 
|-
| Ukraine || {{dts|18 October 2011}} || {{dts|20 September 2012}} ||
|-
| Uzbekistan || {{dts|13 December 2013}} || {{dts|12 January 2014}} ||
|}

== See also ==
* [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]
* [[Economic integration]]
* [[Eurasian Union]]
* [[Free trade areas in Europe]]
* [[Post-Soviet states]]
* [[Trade bloc]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.worldtradelaw.net/fta/agreements/cisfta.pdf Text of agreement]

{{Commonwealth of Independent States}}

[[Category:Free trade agreements]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 2011]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 2012]]
[[Category:Commonwealth of Independent States]]
[[Category:Treaties of Russia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belarus]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Moldova]]
[[Category:Treaties of Armenia]]
[[Category:Free trade areas]]