Trading Partner Portal: Belarus
Overview
Trade Overview
The Republic of Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the Northeast, Ukraine to the South, Poland to the West, and Lithuania and Latvia to the Northwest. The population of Belarus is almost 9.5 million. Over 40% of the country is forested. Belarus’ major economic sectors are service industries and manufacturing. Belarus declared independence in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Belarus is a member of the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Union. The country is not apart of the EU, however it does maintain a bilateral relationship with the organization.
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Belarus were established just over 25 years ago. The U.S. has provided nearly $250 million of assistance to Belarus since 1991 to support the development of a more democratic society and a more prosperous economy. Over the years, thousands of Belarusians have come to the United States on academic and professional exchange programs.
The U.S. exported $125 million worth of goods to Belarus in 2019. Top exports were machinery, except electrical (31.5%), electrical equipment, appliances, and components (17.2%), computer and electronic products (13.6%), and transportation equipment (9.3%). Imports from Belarus to the U.S. totaled $380 million in 2019. This was mostly made up of chemicals, petroleum and coal products, and primary metal manufactures. The U.S. is one of the leading investors in Belarus. In 2017, U.S. foreign investment to Belarus made up $66.7 million.
According to the U.S. BEA, Belarus invested $2 million into the U.S. in 2018.
California exported $7.29 million worth of goods to Belarus in 2019. Computer and electronic products made up over 45% of the total, followed by chemicals, miscellaneous manufactured commodities, and non-electrical machinery. California imported $12.98 million worth of goods to Belarus in 2019, just over 53% of the total was primary metal manufactures, followed by textiles and computer and electronic products.
U.S.-Belarus Economic Cooperation, Belarus Embassy in the United States, February 2018
Trade Agreements
Trade Agreements and Issues
Events
Events
On February 15, 2018 Susanne Stirling, Vice President of International AFfairs at the CalChamber, met with Dr. Florin Ciuriuc a Sacramento Slavic-American Community Leader. Dr. Ciuriuc is the Executive Director of the Slavic Community Center in Sacramento and a Human Rights Advocate. Dr. Ciuriuc is set to become the Honorary Consul of Belarus in Sacramento.
He can be contacted at slaviccommunitycenter@yahoo.com.