The so-called “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” in Tiraspol criticized the draft law adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on the unification of the fiscal and customs regime on both banks of the Dniester. It accused the authorities in Chisinau of applying economic pressure.
In an official statement, the institution “strongly condemned” the initiative, which it claims introduces “new burdens for economic agents in the region in the form of VAT and excise duties,” according to BANI.MD.
Tiraspol stated that the Moldovan authorities block “a real negotiation process” and use “unacceptable forms of pressure,” which it described as attempts to provoke a socio-economic crisis in the region.
The statement also argued that “attempts to impose a double taxation regime have nothing in common with the principles of a peaceful settlement of the conflict” and contradict international trade norms, including European standards.
Representatives of the region warned about possible economic consequences. They said that “plans to extract resources from the socio-economic sphere may lead to risks of business closures, job losses, and regional destabilization.”
At the same time, Tiraspol rejected Chisinau’s claims of supporting the population in the region, stating that “the propaganda about alleged concern for the residents of Transnistria is doomed to fail.”
The unrecognized authorities also said that the Republic of Moldova “chooses confrontation and ignores appeals from society and the business environment in the region.” They called for the involvement of international actors to prevent escalation.
In response, the authorities in Chisinau said the law removes fiscal discrepancies and introduces uniform rules across the entire territory of the country. The document introduces the gradual application of VAT and excise duties for certain products, removes tax exemptions, and unifies import-export rules by 2030.
The law also creates a Convergence Fund, partially financed through taxes collected in the Transnistrian region, intended for infrastructure development and support for the business environment. According to government estimates, the measures could generate around 3.3 billion lei in additional annual revenue for the state budget.