AutoBusiness in Primorye abruptly went to decline

The program is conducted by Leila Giniatulina. The Radio Liberty correspondent in Nakhodka Elena Kashkarova takes part.

Leila Giniatululina: After the introduction of barrage duties on the import of foreign cars in Primorye, an auto businessman sharply went to the decline, which annually brought billions of rubles to the economy. For example, only last year this figure amounted to almost 21 billion rubles. For comparison: the entire annual budget of Vladivostok was only 5 billion rubles in 2008. About 200 thousand people are employed in this industry today, and taking into account their families, the lives of at least 600 thousand people depend on their families.

Elena Kashkarova: According to data published on the official website of the Avtostat analytical agency, after the introduction of new customs tariffs, the import of used cars was reduced by 20 times and practically came to naught, which follows: the auto business in Primorye was almost blown by the state. One of the entrepreneurs of Nakhodka, engaged in auto business, tells.

Entrepreneur: unemployment, people leave, respectively, those savings that they had, they either spend, or somewhere ... that is, up to the point that they leave the Primorsky Territory. There are examples of directly my comrades who worked, paid duties, everyone did not go from taxes, but now they are up to the point that they are leaving for Ukraine, respectively, to other states. People are leaving, cash, financial turnover are leaving. There are no steamboats, almost everyone sold them, only two or three steamers are just in stock. Everything else was taken to China and sold. People were left without work, respectively, go to work as guards or taxi drivers. As a rule, all enterprises are large under Moscow or officials, or their relatives. Therefore, nothing good happens here.

Elena Kashkarova: Today, many shipping companies have almost completely turned their activities. The vessels delivering cars from Japan are put up for sale. Dozens of firms working with auctions completely turned their activities. Customs brokers, auto repair and car service are reduced by the state, one of the sellers of the auto market of the find Alexander believes.

Alexander: They say one thing, do the other. And what to call, I don't even know. This is lawlessness at the state level, that's all. This is on TV themselves in the government even say. Khristenko, what did you say? We are not right, what barracks did. Shuvalov also said, everything will be fine. And here is the right steering wheel?

Elena Kashkarova: Despite the apparent futility of the struggle for the abolition of the duties, motorists do not give up. So, in May, the Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation has already considered the statement of the Penza company Optima -Auto, the purpose of which is to prove the illegality of decisions adopted by the government. And this is how the court of the group of initiative citizens of Vladivostok and Nakhodka Elena Rybkin comments on the decision.

Elena Rybkina: Today we already have a decision on May 21, 2009. There was an appeal to the Supreme Court, which refused to satisfy the statement of claim LLC Optima-Avto. We do not agree with the court decision, because we believe that the increase in the government of customs duties was adopted in violation of the legislation of the Russian Federation. The government did not have any objective reasons and legal grounds for strengthening customs tariff regulation, to increase the current customs duties, especially to increase them several times. Such an increase in customs duties and the goals of the protection of the domestic market does not serve, for the achievement of which, in fact, customs tariff regulation is provided. After the introduction of this resolution, the import of used cars in the first four months of 2009 was reduced by 24 times and is one percent of the total import of foreign -made cars. Accordingly, the receipts of these goods to the domestic market of the Russian Federation are actually nullified. The consumer cannot purchase cars on the domestic market that have all the above consumer properties. So, having done without objective reasons and legal grounds, the government did not protect the domestic automobile market, but, on the contrary, caused him harm, which contradicts the goals of customs tariff regulation.

Elena Kashkarova: The Supreme Arbitration Court of Russia did not consider the arguments of motorists convincing. But appeals to the courts will continue. And in the very near future in Vladivostok, another protest of motorists will be held.