The Russian Foreign Ministry explained the increase in duties for goods of unfriendly countries

Russia uses the increase in customs duties on goods from unfriendly countries as one of the responses to Western sanctions, said the Director of the Department of economic cooperation of the Russian foreign Ministry Dmitry Birichevsky in an interview with TASS.

“Such decisions may include raising the rates of import customs duties on specific products from unfriendly countries, limiting the import of a certain group of goods into Russia, quotas for exports and imports, and others,” the diplomat said.

According to Birichevsky, Russia has an interdepartmental mechanism for developing responses to Western sanctions. Such measures help to support domestic producers and exporters in the face of restrictions.

The diplomat stressed that before making such decisions, the authorities conduct a comprehensive analysis with the participation of representatives of government departments and business to avoid negative consequences for the domestic market.

Birichevsky added that over the years of Western sanctions, the Russian government has developed a set of measures to maintain the stability of the economy.

In early November, the Russian government increased import duties on spirits from unfriendly countries from 20 to 35%, but not less than €5 per liter. The new tariffs were extended to whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs and other spirits. The increased duties will be valid until December 31, 2027.

In September, Russia’s permanent mission to the European Union called Western sanctions “illegitimate and unjustified.” The diplomatic mission stressed that any unfriendly actions against Moscow will not remain unanswered. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov also said that the Russian economy has developed a “certain immunity” to sanctions pressure.