Alexander Firanchuk, Senior Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Trade Department, spoke to News.ru about changes to the list of goods eligible for parallel import.
According to him, shortening the list could lead not only to higher prices for electronics but also to the expansion of the gray market segment, as well as additional costs for businesses.
The expert noted that restricting parallel imports effectively reduces supply while demand remains high. This will be particularly acute for the electronics and computer equipment market. At the same time, it will not be possible to completely block the supply of technology: some products will continue to enter the country through unofficial channels, including under the guise of goods for personal use.
According to Alexander Firanchuk, this creates risks of an expansion of the gray import market, which often does not involve the full payment of VAT and other taxes. An additional problem is the rising costs for companies that need to regularly update equipment for digitalization and to maintain productivity.
“We’re not just talking about complex technological solutions or servers, but also about basic equipment, such as personal computers for employees. Rising prices for such products will impose additional costs on businesses. At the same time, the practice of restricting imports to support domestic manufacturers does not always lead to increased industry competitiveness. In many cases, dependence on imported components persists, and market protection itself becomes effectively indefinite,” noted Alexander Firanchuk.
The expert also pointed out that parallel imports are a common market practice in many countries, while the constant manual adjustment of lists in Russia creates additional uncertainty for businesses and may increase corruption risks.