Trade Liberalization and Protectionism in Russia and the World’s Leading Countries

Abstract

The last decade is characterized by an overall movement towards the liberalization of foreign trade in the world’s leading countries. In the period of crises this tendency is interrupted by outbursts of protectionism. These developments are typical also for Russia, along with some peculiarities, pointing at a delay in the establishment and application of trade regulations, and at a relatively low level of benefits of trade liberalization. There is a need to activate integration agenda, advance industrial policy and diminish the gap in the utilization of trade preferences.