After joining the WTO, agrarian import poured into Russia

In Russia, three months after joining the WTO, the import of meat and dairy products sharply grew up, the Vedomosti newspaper reports with reference to the data of the Institute for the Foreign Market Conjuncture (Icarus).

In September - November 2012, dry milk imported 216% to 7800 tons, dry serum - by 89% to 6766 tons, cheeses - by 116% to 89104 tons, and butter - 136% to 27155 tons. At the same time, according to the same period of the Minister of Agriculture Nikolai Fedorov, the import of beef, pork, oil, cream, butter and cheeses grew by 10-33.5%. In both cases, a similar period of last year is taken for comparison.

An increase in imports is associated with a decrease in customs duties as part of joining the WTO. So, import duties on pork quotas were reduced from 15% to 0%, and in excess of quota - from 75% to 65%; On live pigs - from 40% to 5%. The difference in reducing duties on dairy products is less noticeable - from 25% to 15%.

At the same time, Russian products are actively displaced from the market. So, for example, the supply of Belarusian dairy products increased by 20% according to the chairman of the Soyuzmolok board Andrei Danilenko, the Russian dairy industry cannot compete with the level of state support with the main suppliers of dairy products to Russia - Belarusia, the Baltic countries and Finland.

According to the National Meat Association, pig prices are also rapidly falling. In Central Russia, where half of all industrial production is concentrated, pigs fell to 65 rubles per 1 kg of live weight, given that back in August the price was 94 rubles.

Experts predicted an increase in food imports a year ago, when the final conditions for Russia's accession to the WTO became known. According to the World Bank, in the medium term, the accession of Russia to the trade alliance will bring the country 3.3% of GDP, and in the long -term - 11%.