Trade restrictions in other countries cost Russian exporters about $2.5 billion a year, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a conference on World Trade Organization accession Thursday.
“Russian exporters frequently encounter various forms of restrictions and unfair competition on the market of other countries. Estimates put losses from these restrictions at $2.5 billion per year,” Putin said.
Russia already acts to a considerable extent within the WTO legal framework, Putin said. This is helping an open trade regime emerge, lowering administrative barriers and improving the business climate and competition, he said.