Topic “Russia” — Exporter Magazine

Russia, a major importer of apples, will slash import duties on this fruit by nearly half after joining the World Trade Organistion, and then further half the duty by 2017, according to FruitInform’s website, citing Interfax. Butter shortages in Scandinavia, Russia and other parts of the globe suggest that Ireland’s long-term expansion strategy for the dairy sector is well founded, according to the Irish Examiner. Countries from India and Indonesia to Russia are tightening their grip on natural resources as they limit exports to build up domestic industry in a trend that will spawn many challenges to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to China Daily. As of July 2010, in accordance with the most recently accepted documents, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan formally created a joint customs area, within which the majority of goods exchange are subject to the principles of free trade. Vladimir Putin, Russian prime minister, announced a ban on all the country’s grain exports, effective within 10 days, after a severe drought devastated crops and wildfires spread across the country, according to the Financial Times of UK.