Russian manufacturers of ammunition for civilian weapons may significantly reduce their presence in their largest export market – the US. About it writes RBC.
The reason for this was the additional sanctions imposed by Washington on September 7 against Moscow. Among other things, they included a clause restricting the “permanent import” of small arms and ammunition to the United States from Russia. Now companies wishing to purchase products from Russian enterprises will be issued a mandatory refusal by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to some estimates, Russia is the main supplier of cartridges to the United States. Annual deliveries of Russian manufacturers to the country exceed $ 100 million, which is more than 21 percent of the total imports of gun cartridges. The closest pursuer – South Korea – has half the figure. In 2020, US importers imported more than 765 million cartridges from Russia.
On July 30, it was reported that imports of Russian oil and oil products to the United States rose sharply over the five months of this year against the backdrop of rising prices. “Imports of fertilizers to the United States increased by 35 percent to $ 0.5 billion, while imports of iron and steel from Russia increased by a quarter to $ 0.7 billion. In general, imports of Russian goods to the United States for five months of 2021 increased by one and a half times over the same period a year ago, reaching almost $ 11.5 billion, “- follows from the statistics of the US Census Bureau. For other commodities, purchases also increased significantly, despite the current sanctions. We are talking about the import of mineral fuels, precious and semi-precious metals and stones.
In June, the head of the state corporation Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, explained the meaning of the US sanctions on defense exports, introduced in March this year. He explained that the restrictions are aimed at dual-use products, which the US Department of State considers “military services.” In particular, the situation affects the MS-21 civil aircraft. “They have banned the import of composite materials for the wing. Although this is absurd, it is understandable. I think this is a crafty position in general, ”he said. In his opinion, in addition to restraining Russian defense technologies, the goal of US sanctions is to hinder the development of Russia in general and civil aviation in particular.