Policy Briefing Series [PB/05/2016] The impact of new trade restrictions on Ukraine s trade with Russia Mykola Ryzhenkov, Veronika Movchan, Ricardo Giucci German Advisory Group in cooperation with the IER Kyiv Berlin/Kyiv, February 2016
Summary Jan 2016: Russia introduced new trade restrictions against Ukraine and Ukraine reacted by introducing mirror measures against Russia Measures: Introduction of MFN tariffs (i.e. abolition of free trade), import ban for selected agri-food products UA exports to RU will decline by USD 624 m or 0.7% of GDP UA imports from RU will go down by USD 505 m or 0.6% of GDP UA trade deficit will increase by USD 119 m or of GDP; while this is not a huge amount, it comes at a difficult time for the balance of payments and the foreign exchange market All in all: New trade restrictions have a negative impact on both sides and contribute to the on-going process of economic disintegration between the countries 2
Structure 1. Introduction 2. Ukraine s trade with Russia 3. Review of new trade restrictions 4. Impact on exports to Russia 5. Impact on imports from Russia 6. Impact on Ukraine s trade balance 3
1. Introduction Jan 2016: Russia imposed new trade restrictions vis-à-vis Ukraine In particular: Cancellation of free trade agreement (FTA) with Ukraine Temporary ban on imports of selected Ukrainian agro-food products Remark: These measures were a political response to the launching of the provisional application of the Ukraine-EU free trade agreement (DCFTA); from a trade point of view, these measures are not justified Ukrainian response: Mirror actions vis-à-vis Russia Our objective: Impact estimation of new trade restrictions on Ukraine s trade with Russia In particular: Impact on exports, imports and Ukraine s trade balance 4
USD bn USD bn 2. Ukraine s trade with Russia 20 15 10 5 0 30 25 20 15 10 Evolution of exports to Russia 17.6 15.1 9.8 4.8 2012 2013 2014 2015 Evolution of imports from Russia 27.4 23.2 12.7 7.5 Exports 2012: USD 17.6 bn 2015: USD 4.8 bn 73% drop as compared to 2012 Imports 2012: USD 27.4 bn 2015: USD 7.5 bn 73% drop as compared to 2012 Bilateral trade deficit 2012: USD 9.8 bn 2015: USD 2.7 bn 73% drop as compared to 2012 5 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 Note: All figures for trade in goods Source: State Statistics Service of Ukraine Ukraine s trade with Russia in steep decline since 2012 5
Structure of trade Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 1.0% 1.4% 0.4% 2.4% Exports 2.9% 0.3% 2.4% 4.7% 4.2% 4.3% 0.8% 3.2% 7.8% 15.8% Note: Trade in goods, 2015 Source: State Statistics Service of Ukraine Key export products: Base metals, machinery & equipment, chemical products Key import products: Mineral products, chemicals, machinery and equipment 24.2% 24.0% 0% 10% 20% 30% Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 6 Imports 0.4% 0.2% 2.6% 13.1% 5.3% 0.3% 2.6% 0.6% 1.4% 6.4% 12.8% 1.4% 0.3% 0.5% 52.1% 0% 20% 40% 60%
3. New trade restrictions imposed by Russia Change in trade regime Till end 2015: Free trade between Russia and Ukraine, in the context of the multilateral CIS free trade agreement From 2016 on: Russia imposes MFN tariffs on Ukrainian products Duration: No time limitation, decision depends on RU president Legislation: Decree of the President of the Russian Federation #628 dated 16.12.2015, Federal Law #410-ФЗ dated 30.12.2015 Import ban Import ban on selected Ukrainian agricultural and food products from 01.01.2016 till 07.08.2016 Legislation: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation #1397 dated 21.12.2015 7
Trade regime Counter-actions taken by Ukraine Ukraine also introduced MFN tariff rates in trade with Russia Duration: 02.01.2016 to 31.12.2016 or until Russia stops applying the same measures Legislation: Decree of the Government of Ukraine #1146 dated 30.12.2015 Import ban Ban on selected agro-food products, chemicals, locomotives and railway equipment from 10.01.2016 to 05.08.2016, or until Russia stops applying the same measures Legislation: Decrees of the Government of Ukraine #1147 dated 30.12.2015 and #28 dated 20.01.2016 (expansion of the list) 8
New level of tariff protection Tariff protection: Ukraine vs. Russia Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 5.0% 1 15.0% 2 25.0% 3 35.0% New Russian import tariffs Simple average: 8.5% Trade-weighted average: 7.6% New Ukrainian import tariffs Simple average: 4.7% Trade-weighted average: 1.7% Thus: Protection increase is higher in Russia than in Ukraine Reasons: Higher MFN rates in Russia Structure of trade Ukraine Russia 9
4. Impact on exports to Russia Impact on exports Scenario Exports reduction, USD m % of exports to Russia GDP equivalent MFN tariffs 522 10.8% 0.6% Import ban 141 2.9% 0.2% Combined effect 624 12.9% 0.7% Russian trade restrictions have a strong impact on UA exports Reduction in absolute terms: USD 624 m Reduction in relative terms: 12.9% of exports to Russia In GPD terms: Export reduction corresponds to 0.7% of GDP Main reason: Change in trade regime (MFN tariffs) 10
Sectoral effects on exports to Russia Reduction of exports by sectors, % Contribution to exports contraction, p.p. Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 13.6% 12.6% 8.4% 7.1% 12.1% 15.5% 17.3% 6.9% 20.2% 10.2% 7.3% 12.1% 3.1% 12.1% 27.8% 40.3% 40.2% 69.4% By far the biggest impact is expected for agri-food products 93.9% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.5% 0.4% 0.2% 0.5% 0.5% 0.4% The reduction in exports of agri-food, metals, machinery, paper and chemicals are the major contributors to the overall decline 1.1% 1.2% 1.8% 2.6% 2.5% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 11
5. Impact on imports from Russia Impact on imports Scenario Imports reduction, USD m % of imports from Russia GDP equivalent MFN tariffs 289 3.9% 0.3% Import ban 244 3.3% 0.3% Combined effect 505 6.8% 0.6% UA trade restrictions have a strong impact on imports from RU Reduction in absolute terms: USD 505 m Reduction in relative terms: 6.8% of imports from Russia In GPD terms: Import reduction corresponds to 0.6% of GDP Reasons: MFN tariffs and import ban have a similar impact Ex vs. Im: Impact on imports lower, but comparable to exports 12
Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles Sectoral effects on imports from Russia Reduction of imports by sectors, % 0.9% 21.0% 6.6% 15.1% 0.3% 6.5% 13.1% 14.2% 6.3% 1.0% 1.3% 10.4% 0.7% 12.4% 87.3% 81.6% 79.9% 73.2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Contribution to imports contraction, p.p. Animal products Vegetable products Fats and oils Prepared foodstuffs Mineral products Chemical products Plastics, rubber Leathers, skins Wood Pulp, paper Textile Footwear, headgear Articles of stone Precious stones and metals Base metals Machinery and equipment Vehicles, aircraft Instruments and apparatus Misc manufactured articles 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Ukrainian sanctions primarily affect agri-food products, but with limited effect on overall imports contraction. Only exemption is prepared foodstuff Chemicals will contribute the most to the overall imports drop 0.5% 1.9% 2.8% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 13
6. Impact on bilateral trade balance with Russia Change in Ukraine s bilateral trade balance with Russia Scenario Trade balance change, USD m MFN tariffs - 233 Import ban + 102 Combined effect - 119 As a result of new trade restrictions (actions & counteractions), Ukraine s trade deficit will increase by USD 119 m The main driver for this increase is the introduction of MFN tariffs in Russia for Ukrainian products While this is not a huge amount, it comes at a time of significant stress on the balance of payments and the market for foreign exchange; furthermore, this is just one of many shocks currently facing the external sector of the country 14
Contact Dr Ricardo Giucci giucci@berlin-economics.com Mykola Ryzhenkov ryzhenkov@ier.kiev.ua German Advisory Group c/o BE Berlin Economics GmbH Schillerstr. 59, D-10627 Berlin Tel: +49 30 / 20 61 34 64 0 Fax: +49 30 / 20 61 34 64 9 E-mail: info@beratergruppe-ukraine.de www.beratergruppe-ukraine.de Twitter: @BerlinEconomics 15