New Accents in Russia’s Trade Policy

Abstract

The article analyzes new accents in Russia’s trade policy announced since the beginning of the war of sanctions and the slipping of the national economy into a crisis. It is emphasized that the results so far are not very impressive. Russia’s “Asia Pivot” did not lead to the enhancement of trade relations with the region. It can be justified only by the decline in exports and imports in other trade directions, mainly European. Robust exports growth without technological renovation of the branches and sectors of the national economy looks like a beautiful dream. The industry is drawn into a spontaneous substitution of imports but at the risk of the conservation of the production of uncompetitive goods. The upward revision of the tariff obligations undertaken by Russia within the WTO under declining domestic demand and serious devaluation of rouble seems inappropriate and counterproductive.