Moldova: State and Prospects of Development of Tradeand Economic Cooperation with Russia

• Main Author: Ludmila V. Fokina
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Centre of Regional Research 2017-08-01
• Series: Problemy Postsovetskogo Prostranstva
• Subjects: moldova; change of geovector to the eu; loss of the russian market; association agreement of moldova with the eu; foreign trade; president of moldova i. dodon; eurasian economic union (eaeu); opportunities of restoration of ties with the rf
• Online Access: https://www.postsovietarea.com/jour/article/view/113

In the paper contradictory development of Moldavian-Russian trade and economic cooperation, especially in conditions of the change of Moldova’s geovector from strategic partnership with the RF to European integration is studied. One-sided vector of the RM in favour of European integration finally confirmed by the Moldavian leadership after the signing of the Association agreement with the EU and enforcement of the Free trade zone with the EU (2014) was the principal cause of considerable loss of traditional Russian market. Just cooperation with Russia for many years took the key position in the system of external economic ties of Moldova. In the part “Pro-European transformation of external economic ties and its consequences” the causes of the crash of mutual foreign trade turnover of two countries are analysed. Emphasis is laid on the principal cause of the challenge for trade of the RF with Moldova which stipulated forced policy of the RF aimed at protection of its internal market from re-export of production from Europe. Russia adopted a number of restrictive measures against the RM including actual abolition of the free trade zone, introduction of duties on export of the Moldavian production as well as embargo on import of wines and agricultural production. Besides toughening of the customs regime, the position of the RF on import substitution was extended to Moldova after the West imposed sanctions against Russia. In the part “Priority directions of cooperation of the RM with the RF” special role of partnership with Russia in such important fields for the Moldavian economy as power engineering and wine-making production, in investment cooperation, in the sphere of labour migration is shown. In the concluding part of the article initiatives of publicly elected President of the RM I. Dodon (November 2016) aimed at restoration of former foreign trade ties with Russia and other EAEU countries are considered. In this connection attention is paid to the fact that by agreement of I. Dodon with the Russian President V. Putin (January 2017) the first progress in solution of some problems has appeared. In particular, the RF is ready to cancel restrictions by fito-sanitary norms, in the sphere of labour migration amnesty for the part of Moldavian workers in the RF is proposed. At the same time attention is paid to existing opposition to the initiative of I. Dodon to restore strategic partnership with Russia in conditions of diarchy turned out in the country: president — pro-European parliamentary majority and government.