Government abandons plans to restrict imports
The Council of Ministers decides to abandon controversial plans to introduce broad import restrictions for six months.
The Industry Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the government had concluded after discussions that the planned measure was inexpedient, reports BelaPAN.
Last week, media reports suggested that the government had drafted a presidential edict that would give 12 state-owned manufacturers the monopolistic right to import consumer and and industrial goods between July 1, 2014 and January 1, 2015. The list of goods would include among others: radio, TV, video equipment and home appliances, bearings, engines, trucks, machinery, harvest collectors, elevators, tyres and others.
Government experts suggested the measure was needed in order to defend the economic interests of the state. The plan triggered a wave of criticism from the country's business circles.
Photo: avito.ru
