MOSCOW, September 6 (RIA Novosti) - The government intends to abolish import tariffs on manufacturing equipment, Russia's Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref told a news conference Tuesday.
"All [import] tariffs will be abolished by the end of the year," Gref said.
According to the minister, the move is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of domestic industry ahead of Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"Ideally, we should complete negotiations on the WTO issue this year," the minister said, adding that he was scheduled to visit the United States for talks on joining the WTO in late September.
