Armenia is a member of the following organizations: APCTT, BSEC, BSBTDB, CCC, CIS, EEC, EBRD, IFRCRCS, IFC, IMF, ISO, ITU, IPU, FAO, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IOS, ICDO, ICAO, INTOSAI, IAPNTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIPO, OSCE, RAMSAR, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, MIGA, PCCNTBTO, UPU, WEC, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WOAH, World Bank/IDA, WTO (World Tourism Organization), WTO and the Council of Europe. Armenia also has observer status at ADB, NAM, and participates in NATO PFP.
The Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Armenia came into effect in July 1999. The Agreement aims to improve economic cooperation and trade within the region and with the European Union.
As Armenia is a member of MIGA it is possible to get MIGA guarantees to insure investment against political risk. On December 10, 2002 Armenia joined the WTO.
Bilateral Treaties on Investment Promotion and Protection (BITs) have been concluded with 32 countries including: Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Belgium-Luxemburg economic union, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA and Vietnam. BITs with Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan, Holland, Macedonia, Morocco, Slovenia and Jordan are under negotiation. Armenia is a signatory to the CIS Multilateral Convention on the Protection of Investor Rights.
Free Trade Treaty
Armenia has Free Trade Regimes with Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. And Most-Favored-Nation Trade Regimes with Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, EU, Iran, India, Hungary, Lebanon, Poland, Romania, Syria, Switzerland, Vietnam and USA.
Double Taxation Treaties
Double taxation treaties (DTTs) are in force with Belarus, Bulgaria, China, France, Georgia, Iran, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Treaties with Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Syria and Uzbekistan are subject to ratification. The number of DTTs is rapidly increasing.
Trade Liberalization
Today, Armenia has a liberal foreign trade regime with a simple two-band import tariff (at 0% and 10%), no taxes on exports, and no quantitative trade restrictions. Import, export, and domestic production licenses are required only for health, security, and environmental reasons. There are no limits on hard currency imports.
Armenia is a member of WTO from 2002. Since then, it has advanced rapidly in trade liberalization. The accession process is in the final stage.
Under the terms of free trade agreements, tariff exemptions are extended to goods traded between Armenia and Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Excise taxes are charged at various rates on the import or production of some goods, including alcohol, tobacco and petrol.