| − | The [[Russian Federation]] has extensive tariffs on goods produced in the [[European Union]].<ref>"Russia’s accession to the [[WTO]] in 2012 raised the expectations that trade with Russia would benefit from sustained [[liberal]]isation. Instead, Russia has progressively put in place numerous measures favouring domestic products and services over foreign ones, and incentivising localisation of production in Russia by foreign companies." [https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/russia_enEU trade relations with Russia. Facts, figures and latest developments.] policy.trade.ec.europa.eu</ref> Alternatively, the Russian Federation had a [[free trade]] agreement with [[Ukraine]] prior to the [[United States]],<ref>[https://youtu.be/JS5AXHue83s?t=1813 Newsmaker Interview: H.E. Sergey Lavrov], Doha Forum, Jan 30, 2025. [[YouTube]]. </ref> under the [[Obama administration]], staging a [[coup]] in February 2014 against the [[democracy|democratically]] elected government of Ukraine that brought a [[fascist]] and [[neo-Nazi]] regime to power.<ref>[https://truthout.org/articles/the-ukraine-mess-that-nuland-made/ The Ukraine Mess That Nuland Made], By Robert Parry, ''ConsortiumNews'', Published July 15, 2015. truthout.org</ref> One of the new regime's first acts was to withdraw from the free trade agreement with the Russian Federation and enter into an Association Agreement with the [[EU]].<ref>[https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/ukraine_en EU trade relations with Ukraine. Facts, figures and latest developments.] policy.trade.ec.europa.eu</ref> | + | The [[Russian Federation]] has extensive tariffs on goods produced in the [[European Union]] in order to protect and develop its own domestic industries and markets.<ref>"Russia’s accession to the [[WTO]] in 2012 raised the expectations that trade with Russia would benefit from sustained [[liberal]]isation. Instead, Russia has progressively put in place numerous measures favouring domestic products and services over foreign ones, and incentivising localisation of production in Russia by foreign companies." [https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/russia_enEU trade relations with Russia. Facts, figures and latest developments.] policy.trade.ec.europa.eu</ref> Alternatively, the Russian Federation had a [[free trade]] agreement with [[Ukraine]] prior to the [[United States]],<ref>[https://youtu.be/JS5AXHue83s?t=1813 Newsmaker Interview: H.E. Sergey Lavrov], Doha Forum, Jan 30, 2025. [[YouTube]]. </ref> under the [[Obama administration]], staging a [[coup]] in February 2014 against the [[democracy|democratically]] elected government of Ukraine that brought a [[fascist]] and [[neo-Nazi]] regime to power.<ref>[https://truthout.org/articles/the-ukraine-mess-that-nuland-made/ The Ukraine Mess That Nuland Made], By Robert Parry, ''ConsortiumNews'', Published July 15, 2015. truthout.org</ref> One of the new regime's first acts was to withdraw from the free trade agreement with the Russian Federation and enter into an Association Agreement with the [[EU]].<ref>[https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/ukraine_en EU trade relations with Ukraine. Facts, figures and latest developments.] policy.trade.ec.europa.eu</ref> |