LEGAL ISSUES OF FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT CORRIDOR “WESTERN EUROPE – WESTERN CHINA”

Abstract

The article raises issues related to the implementation and development of the transit potential of Kazakhstan within the framework of the “Western Europe - Western China” transit corridor. It considers socio-economic benefits for Kazakhstan and China in case if the project is successfully implemented.

The article analyzes the recommendations of the Government of China to improve cooperation in strategic areas to strengthen economic cooperation in the framework of the transit corridor.

The article examines problematic issues that impede the development of transit potential of Kazakhstan. It examines and analyzes documents of regulatory and legal nature in the field of transport, customs regulation and transit. It considers in more detail the provisions of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Customs Regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan” dated December 26, 2017 in terms of transit development and optimization of customs operations, electronic declaration, the use of advance information as a transit declaration, reduction of the time for goods to be released by the customs authority and others.

The article analyzes the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation and their application within the framework of the international transit corridor “Western Europe - Western China” in terms of non-discrimination, provision of national treatment, possibly separate infrastructure for transit traffic, preliminary filing and processing of transit documents, the appointment of a national coordinator on transit, to which all requests and proposals concerning the effective functioning of transit operations are addressed, the application of international standards, lack of transit quotas, support for regional transit agreements.

It suggests recommendations on effective development of transit in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.