The Ministry of Agriculture supported the extension of duties on the import of wines from unfriendly countries

The Ministry of Agriculture supported the extension of duties of 20% on the import of wines from unfriendly countries until 2024, said Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev.

“We support the proposal to continue this measure after January 1, 2024,” the minister said during a speech at the second Russian Wine Forum (quote according to TASS).

The fact that the government plans to extend increased import duties on wine from unfriendly countries, wrote “Kommersant” October 13. An interlocutor close to the government claimed that an increase in import duties on beer from a number of countries is also being discussed. At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers sees the risks of retaliatory complications in the supply of hops to the Russian Federation.

From August 1, the government increased import duties on wines from the USA, EU countries, Australia and other unfriendly countries almost twice – from 12.5% ​​to 20%, but not less than $1.5 per liter. The measure was introduced until the end of 2023. In July, the Ministry of Energy expected that the wine market, after increasing duties, would be saturated with domestic producers and imports from friendly and neutral countries.

In mid-October, the media, citing data from UN international trade statistics Comtrade wrotethat in 2023 the main suppliers of wine to Russia were Lithuania, Latvia and Georgia.

From the beginning of the year to July, Lithuania exported $126 million worth of wine to Russia, Russia imported $112.1 million worth of wine from Georgia, and supplies from Latvia reached $79 million. Italy supplied bottles of wine for a smaller amount – $72.7 million.