According to CCTV news reports, the Russian Prime Minister said that Russia will exempt import tariffs on technical equipment. The transcontinental country will also simplify the import process of computers, smartphones and tablets. Back in April this year, the current inventory of imported electronic products and components in the Russian retail market can be sold for 8 to 9 months. Due to the embargo on Russia from Europe and the United States, the country may face a shortage of electronic products this winter. Domestic distributors of consumer electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops in Russia have sufficient inventory. However, the supply of home appliances and their components has been relatively tight.
Since the start of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, there have been irregularities in the supply chain. While Ukraine is struggling to keep its territories safe from the Russian army, Russia is facing its own troubles. There have been numerous bans and restrictions on Russia. This is affecting the supply chain in the country and this is why it needs urgent measures. This is one of the reasons why it is exempting import duties on tech equipment.
Russia set to fine Apple
Apple’s appeal hit a brick wall, and the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service now has permission to start an antitrust investigation into the App Store. The antitrust case will move forward as Apple’s appeal to re-examine the Russian agency’s grounds for the investigation was rejected. If found guilty of monopolistic conduct, Apple could face fines based on its revenue in Russia. Apple is blocking developers from connecting users to external payment options, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service said.
The agency gave Apple until September 2021 to rectify it and filed an antitrust lawsuit in October. However, the lawsuit comes just days after Apple removed antitrust provisions from its App Store rules. The company then appealed to the court for judicial review of the antitrust regulator’s warning.
According to Reuters, a court rejected Apple’s appeal, giving Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service grounds to continue its investigation into Apple’s App Store rules. The company has several legal disputes with Russia. A class-action lawsuit alleges that the company’s shutdown of its payment platform in the country caused “deliberate moral damage” to people in the region.
Despite the tension between both countries, the company is still attending to its legal disputes in Russia. However, Apple is not running its regular business. According to reports, its stores are no longer active in the Russian market.
