Senior Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Trade Department Olga Rozanova commented on the postponement of the introduction of the technology levy on radio-electronic products from September 1 to December 1, 2026.
According to the expert, the technology levy will help establish an investment fund for the development of Russia’s radio-electronic industry; however, in the short term, it may lead to price increases due to higher costs for manufacturers and importers.
“The technology levy does indeed create inflationary pressure, as it increases costs for manufacturers and importers. However, in the long term, this effect may diminish if the funds collected help develop domestic manufacturers and strengthen competition in the market,” noted Olga Rozanova.
The expert also emphasized that postponing the launch of the mechanism will help businesses prepare for the new requirements, although this alone does not resolve all issues related to the levy’s implementation.
“The postponement makes the introduction of the levy less painful for market participants. But whether it is sufficient will depend on how quickly the final rates and the procedure for applying the new mechanism are approved,” concluded Olga Rozanova.