Year of Russia in the WTO, the fears were not justified

The protocol on Russia's accession to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into force a year ago, on August 22.

During the discussion of the conditions for the Russian Federation, many experts predicted a collapse unless the economy as a whole, the individual sectors, but at the end of the year even with some weakening of tariff protection of the economic situation in Russia remains relatively stable.

Foreign trade generates more than half of the federal budget, so part of the Russian Federation to establish "rules of the game" in the world markets is of great importance and carries certain risks. However, for the year of the Russian Federation to the WTO can only point to ascertain the impact on the industry. Among the victims, as expected, - agriculture, light industry and metallurgy.

The fact that the massive influx of cheap imports has not occurred, evidenced by customs statistics: According to the preliminary data of Federal Customs Service of Russia, in January and July of this year, the growth of imports of goods to Russia amounted to 3.5% (almost two times less than in January- July 2012) - up to $ 155 billion.

«Even today, it is obvious that the agrarian sector is greater than all the rest of the industry has suffered from Russia's accession to the WTO. In this case, the dairy industry was one of the hardest hit, "- said the head of the National Union of Milk Producers (" Soyuzmoloko ") Andrey Danilenko. Duties on a number of categories molokoproduktsii been reduced and is now seriously increase its import. Moreover, consumers have not received cheap imported products - distributors bid up the price, knowing the dependence of our market from imports, Danilenko said.

This relationship is enhanced due to the decrease in domestic production, which in the first half of the year, according to the union, was 10-15%. "Overall, this year will lose at least one million metric tonnes of milk (down 7% - ed.), And possibly more," - he added.

«WTO accession impact on pig production, and then in the poultry industry, especially in the first eight or nine months after the merger," - said the head of the executive committee of the National Meat Association Sergey Yushin. Increased due to the reduction of duties on imports of pork background of increasing domestic production led to a sharp decline in prices in the wholesale sector by about 25-30%. Reduced prices for pork pulled behind a poultry prices.

Companies with high production costs, which are not yet upgraded, withdraw from the market, leaving room for strong players - and this has a positive effect of the WTO, said Yushin. But to replace the shortfall in volumes, investment is needed, and because of the uncertainty, it became more difficult.