This whole problem could come to an end if Russia finally manages to activate its contingency plan behind the backs of manufacturers, trade blockades and a series of trade restrictions imposed from abroad. are the calls parallel importswhich are offering a double standard that it seems that Russia is going to have to swallow if it wants to continue with its operations and technologies.
Russia’s Gray List: 200 brands on stage
Until 50 product groups and more than 200 brands they are within this Gray list that runs the risk of becoming black if hostile actions by companies and governments continue. It has been the Ministry of Industry and Commerce which, after Putin’s order, prepared said list based on the needs or priorities of the Russian economy and its technology requirements.
We are talking about a list whose products are going to be imported into Russia without the permission of the copyright holder, hence the Gris, where both equipment and chips are reportedly Apple, Samsung, Intel and ASUS among many others.
These are the so-called parallel imports and it not only affects the sector that concerns us, but the automotive sector and the spare parts sector of certain key industries in that country are also immersed in the problem.
The Gray list implies that the government has already agreed and signed purchase agreements with third countries without resorting to common brands, manufacturers or intermediaries that operated on its borders, all without the creator of that technology having a voice or vote to decide who sells it, because it is another country that supplies Russia in this case.
A semi-illegal practice that will bring consequences to its allies
If the manufacturers leave your country and block the trade of their products, you resort to third countries to import that technology that you are denied and they accept, then the next step is key in this industry. Brands like Samsung have already seen this coming and do not want problems with the West, so they block main functions on their smartphones and TVs.
This can also happen in the consoles of Nintendo, SONY and Microsoft, since they are also on the Russian Gray list, so we are not talking about essential industrial goods, but technology and chips even for players and gamers.
Are all advantages here? Obviously not. Russia may get the products from this Gray list at first, but the country that supports them or simply companies that illegally sell the products are going to be subject to sanctions or blockages by manufacturers after the wake-up call from the US and the EU.
But in addition, the Russians are going to buy technological material, whether individuals or companies, which do not have a guarantee because logically they are buying intellectual property that does not have permission to be sold and used in Russian territory. So we entered a new spiral of problems for the country of Vladimir Putin, which is collecting cable at a forced march, since on this specific issue they had given an express order to destroy imported goods through unofficial channels, the same ones they now use to bring chips and technology to their country.
The problem is that Russia will surely pay a much higher price for the products on this Gray list, so more than one “friendly” country will want to do business at the expense of possible blockades, at least as long as there is no ultimatum as such. Will China be your great ally?
