Week in #reviews

The government intends to raise import duties on alcohol and flowers from unfriendly countries. The duty on strong alcohol will be 20%, but not less than €3 per liter; on wine – 25%, but not less than $2 per liter; on cut flowers – 20%. The new rates will be in effect until the end of this year.

The ban on the export of #Russian gasoline, which was suspended at the end of May, resumed on August 1. The Ministry of #energy announced a decision to extend the ban into September-October "as a precaution."

The State Duma passed a law allowing the use of cryptocurrency for cross-border settlements in foreign trade contracts. This opportunity can be realized only within the framework of an experimental legal regime.

Starting September 1, the #CentralBanking of the Russian Federation will begin creating a special platform for cross-border settlements in cryptocurrencies, with the first payments expected by the end of this year. The work will be conducted jointly with BRICS partners, and the creation of an independent financial settlement platform, "BRICS Bridge," will be discussed at the #BRICSSUMMIT in Kazan in October.

Russian-Turkish trade turnover decreased by 14% over six months, to $26.3 billion. Supplies from Turkey to Russia fell by 26.5%, to $4.3 billion, while Russian exports decreased by 10.4%, to $22 billion.