ALRUD experts discuss at a workshop the key challenges of customs regulation in 2024-2025

On 16 April 2025 ALRUD Law Firm’s office hosted a workshop on “Customs Law and Foreign Economic Activity in 2024-2025: Customs Value Control and Customs Payment Pitfalls”. Under tightened supervision and increasing uncertainty on the foreign economic market the topic was of much interest to lawyers, foreign trade experts, and business representatives.

Speakers at the event were Maxim Alekseyev, Senior Partner, Boris Ostroukhov, Of Counsel, PhD in Law, Anna Ryzhikova, Senior Associate, Advocate, Denis Bekker, Senior Associate, Advocate, Sergey Artemiev, Senior Associate, Advocate, Arslan Maksutov, Associate.

The workshop was opened with an overview of key changes introduced in 2024: from new approaches to customs value formation to heated disputes over the accuracy of calculation of duties when dealing with interrelated contractors.

Based on the recent practices (including cases regarding Fanagoria, Maschio Gaspardo Russia and other companies), ALRUD experts showed the consequences that may be entailed by inclusion of dividends, royalty, or other expenses into the customs value. They considered cases when even a formally valid transaction between the interrelated parties may raise issues on the part of customs authorities – and how to be prepared for such situations.

The participants specifically focused on the growing attention to unfulfilled foreign trade contracts: what is meant to be an “actual delivery”, how to justify the price and avoid additional charges. The experts could not leave unmentioned the issue of antidumping duties on Chinese goods – the participants analyzed how their application affects logistics and price setting.

The event was completed with the analysis of recent court cases on bringing companies to responsibility for infringement of counter-sanctions legislation. ALRUD speakers shared their findings regarding the precedent setting practice and gave recommendations on risk mitigation in 2025.