Russia Continues to Have Non-Tariff Barriers for Imports, USTR Says

The annual report on Russia's compliance with World Trade Organization standards echoed much of last year's report (see 1902050029). The U.S. exported $6.7 billion in goods to Russia in 2018, with aircraft, machinery and vehicles as the most common exports. That is nearly 29% less than was exported 10 years ago. It has complied with its tariff commitments, but has numerous non-tariff barriers, the U.S. Trade Representative's report said.

The report said, “Russia continues to protect its agricultural sector through a variety of measures. In addition to the import ban on nearly all agricultural goods from the United States and some other WTO Members, Russia maintains other unjustified non-tariff barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. Although Russia removed its transit ban on poultry bound for Kazakhstan, it introduced onerous reporting conditions.”