The Russian government has more than doubled the customs duty on beer imported from countries it considers "unfriendly." The decision, outlined in a recent Cabinet decree and confirmed by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Industry, sees the duty on beer skyrocket from 4 cents to 10 cents per liter, effectively increasing the tariff by two and a half times.
Furthermore, the government has extended its tariff adjustments to include other alcoholic beverages such as vermouth, sparkling wines, and other wines from the designated countries. Tariffs on these products have been raised to 20 percent of the cost, with a minimum charge of USD 1.5 per liter, according to information obtained by the independent newspaper Kommiersant.
The Moscow Times sheds light on the perspective of Aleksey Didenko, the head of the State Duma Committee on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government, who had previously advocated for banning beer imports altogether. Didenko underscores the support extended by countries like Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia to Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. He posits that by restricting beer imports from these nations deemed "unfriendly," Russia can level the playing field for its domestic producers while introducing products from countries aligned with Moscow's interests. Didenko contends that such measures constitute a substantial counter-sanction against Western nations.
The significance of this decision is underscored by trade statistics from the Moscow Times, which reveal Germany's dominant position as a beer exporter to Russia. In both 2022 and 2023, Germany accounted for more than one-third of all beer imports to Russia, with a notable 32 percent increase in shipments from the previous year, totaling USD 96 million. This surge contributed to a 4.7 percent rise in Germany's overall share of Russian imports. Additionally, Lithuania emerged as the second-largest beer exporter to Russia in 2023, with exports valued at USD 36.5 million, constituting over 15 percent of the total.
The escalation of tariffs on beer and other alcoholic beverages marks a strategic maneuver by Russia to assert its economic autonomy and align trade policies with geopolitical objectives, amidst ongoing tensions with Western nations.
