Vladimir Putin has instructed to limit the import of Tetra Pak packaging from Asia

The initiative was proposed by Alexander Krivolapov, CEO of Packaging Systems. According to him, Russian manufacturers of packaging for dairy products, juices, and other beverages face serious competition fr om suppliers from India and China. He noted that such conditions pose a threat of underutilization of new production facilities currently being built in Russia.

The president reminded about similar support measures in the automotive industry, wh ere a recycling fee had been previously introduced. "There are subtle mechanisms... Everything can be done if we work calmly and rhythmically," Vladimir Putin stated, emphasizing that protecting the domestic market is possible even within the framework of existing international obligations.

In turn, the Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, explained that under WTO rules, Russia cannot raise import duties on packaging materials above 5% for "friendly countries" such as India and China.

Vladimir Putin's instruction came a month after the launch in the Moscow region of a new enterprise for producing packaging for long-term beverage storage — a Russian equivalent of Tetra Pak products, which had exited the Russian market.