Eurasian Economic Union eyes free trade deals with more countries
Talks with India are heading into a third round, and consultations with Tunisia are expected to start soon, the diplomat said.
The Eurasian Economic Union may sign free trade agreements with several more countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said on Sunday, Russia's state news agency TASS reported.
Pankin said 2025 produced several such deals, including agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Mongolia.
He said the bloc's negotiating efforts now focus on new tracks, and that Moscow is actively working to deepen trade ties with a group of countries.
Two rounds of free trade talks have been held with India, and experts from both sides are preparing for a third round, Pankin said.
He said the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council decided in May 2026 to start consultations on liberalizing trade with Tunisia, and the first round is expected soon.
Pankin said the bloc is also examining whether it makes sense to sign free trade agreements with Pakistan and Jordan.
He said reaching agreements acceptable to all sides often takes a long time because each step needs a thorough analysis of its economic feasibility.
Decisions in the bloc are made by consensus and take into account the interests of all member states, he said.
Pankin said predicting when that work will finish is a thankless task, and he could not give a precise timeline.
The Eurasian Economic Union groups Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, and it operates a common market for goods, services, capital and labour among its members.
