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Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation: Sanctions and Tariffs
08 March 2023
Lead MP
Siobhain McDonagh
Mitcham and Morden
Lab
Responding Minister
David Rutley
Tags
UkraineEconomyTaxationBusiness & Trade
Word Count: 3993
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Siobhain McDonagh raised concerns about republic of belarus and the russian federation: sanctions and tariffs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Minister to address the detail of this issue and explain how we will close the loopholes that Russia and Belarus are using, ensuring our sanctions and tariffs are effective in practice. Additionally, I urge the Government to update the sanctions list and increase tariffs on metals, making goods originating from sanctioned countries uncompetitive.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Businesses in my constituency have been impacted by sanctions evasion tactics employed by a Belarusian company. This company is circumventing UK sanctions on Belarusian goods by claiming that its products originate from Russia, allowing it to import sanctioned items without facing the additional tariff and thus undercutting local businesses. The case exemplifies how sanctions lists can be drawn up in such a way as to create loopholes exploited by Russian and Belarusian entities.
Grateful to add support to the hon. Lady's comments, concerned that sanctions are not being extended far enough, especially to countries in the developing world trading with Russia. An intervention inquiring how Russia is evading western sanctions through trading with developing or emerging market countries.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Congratulates the hon. Lady on securing this debate and calls for an increase in the number of sanctioned individuals and businesses, emphasizing proper implementation. The MP questioned the inconsistency between Departments on sanction implementation and suggested treating Belarus and Russia exactly the same in their approach to sanctions.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the hon. Lady for securing the debate and agrees that sanctions on Russia and Belarus must be increased to hurt oligarchs economically.
An intervention suggesting that making product lists the same for Belarus and Russia could undermine attempts to evade sanctions.
Marie Rimmer
Lab
St Helens South and Whiston
The MP congratulated Siobhain McDonagh on securing the debate and asked the Minister about further action against individuals helping Russia bypass sanctions, citing Igor Zimenkov as an example.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
The MP expressed support for sanctions against Russia and called for a comprehensive package of action including continued UK Government support for Ukraine through military means.
Government Response
David Rutley
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms Fovargue. I congratulate the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden on securing this important debate and her commitment in broadly backing His Majesty's Government's approach to sanctions. The UK has co-ordinated with international allies to respond to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, imposing over 1,500 individuals and entities since the start of the invasion. Since the year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK introduced an array of measures targeting trade, finance, military, and industrial sectors, reducing Russian goods imports by 99% between September and November last year compared to the same period in 2021. More than £20 billion of UK-Russia trade in goods is now under full or partial sanction. Tariff measures were also introduced tightening screws on Putin and his supporters. The latest package includes export bans on every item Russia has been found to be using on the battlefield, adding further weight to our response. To tackle circumvention, the Government and HMRC take all reported alleged sanctions violations very seriously indeed. Businesses play a crucial role in providing information about suspected breaches. Different regimes serve different foreign policy objectives, although there are links between Russia and Belarus sanctions; they are distinct. The UK has worked closely with international partners to maximise impact, demonstrating leadership in the most impactful areas such as designating top executives at Rosatom. We will continue to bear down on Russia and Belarus by implementing further sanctions and leaning in to tackle circumvention attempts.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.