Tariff war could encourage Chinese business, undeterred by sanctions, to expand in Russia - Shokhin

MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax) - The introduction of protective U.S. tariffs could encourage China to step up supplies to other markets, including Russia, increasing the pressures already exerted on Russian companies by Chinese competitors, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Alexander Shokhin said at a business breakfast with new members of the business association.

"It's clear that China will now start scattering their goods all over the world, including the U.S. via third countries. It's very possible that this will exert extra pressure on the Russian market too," the RSPP head is quoted as saying by the union's press service.

Shokhin said that Russian companies had already met with serious competition from Chinese manufacturers and cited the example of Kamaz , which has lost its leading position on the domestic market to a Chinese manufacturer.

"It is highly probable that Chinese imports will penetrate the Russian market actively in other areas, too. It's possible that China will no longer be deterred by fears of secondary sanctions," Shokhin said.