Pomoŝ’ Rabkoru — Russia should withdraw from WTO in response to new sanctions

J.Hawk’s Comment: Dzarasov is correct in arguing WTO is harmful to Russia in the sense that its tariff regulations prevent Russia from rebuilding its manufacturing base. Being in the WTO makes sense if Russia is happy to limit itself to being a supplier of natural resources to the rest of the global economy. That would be the niche Russia would be limited to if it relied on the “invisible hand of the market”, in keeping with the neoliberal economic dogma that is still dominant in the West and which has its adherents in Russia. However, the sanctions have had the paradoxical effect of weakening the neoliberal faction in Russia, and have accelerated the adoption of an import substitution strategy aimed at rejuvenating Russia’s domestic manufacturing. Exiting the WTO would only be a logical step in this process. It would also be a major blow to any country or corporation which is counting on the Russian market, unless their manufacturing operations are actually located in Russia.

Fort Russ
Russia should withdraw from WTO in response to new sanctions

Pomoŝ’ Rabkoru

Translated by J. Hawk

Original in Russian.