21 of August. Vladimir Gutenev (first Deputy Chairman of State Duma Committee on industry, first Vice-President of the Union of machine builders of Russia) reported about the possible introduction of a ban on the import of cars from USA and Europe in response to sanctions imposed by Western countries.
Gutenev said that in joining the WTO, Russia has reserved the right to impose temporary restrictions in case of security risks for domestic producers.
Vladimir Gutenev said that Russian car market is currently decreased, there is a decline of Russian producers and this, despite the release of new models. "The policy of the European countries may force us to clear the segment. It is not excluded that in the nearest future the Russian Government may take measures to impose restrictions on the import into Russia of cars cost less than 800 thousand rubles".
Recall that the first package of sanctions against Russia entered into force in March 2014. This was a reciprocal measure of the "West" on the annexation of Crimea to Russia. In the "black" list included major Russian officials and businessmen, and also heads of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics. Bans mean freeze the accounts and ban entry. In July, Brussels extended the sanctions on various sectors of the Russian economy. In particular, major Russian banks (Rosselkhozbank, Sberbank, Gazprombank and others) lost access to long-term financing in Europe.
The government of the Russian Federation in response to the sanctions banned public statements to purchase cars of foreign manufacture and special vehicles for emergency services / public utilities / government organizations and public transport made abroad. Also, the Government has restricted the procurement of complex medical equipment from abroad.
If these restrictions are to be introduced, with a car market of Russia will disappear about 80 models of new cars that are officially imported into the country. As for used cars, so far it did not come, however, and this segment of the import will not go unnoticed.
