Russia to extend countersanctions on foreign motor transport companies in 2023

MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The Russian government intends to extend in 2023 the ban on international motor cargo transportation by European transport companies on the territory of the country imposed in October as a retaliatory measure.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov backed the Transport Ministry's relevant proposals at a meeting of the government commission on transport, the government's press service said.

The countersanctions on transport companies from the European Union, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Norway were imposed in Russia from October 10. The foreign companies were prohibited from conducting bilateral and transit transportation in Russia, as well as transportation from the territory or to the territory of a third state.

These measures were in fact retaliation to similar restrictions imposed by the EU on Russian and Belarusian motor carriers from April 8.

Cargo delivery by motor transport from unfriendly countries on the territory of Russia is carried out using the mechanism of connection and reloading: goods are reloaded into Russian and Belarusian motor carriers' road vehicles, or semi-trailers with cargo are connected at customs terminals. This practice envisages a number of exceptions for commodity groups, in particular, for perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, medical products, and some other products.