Political relations between America and Russia have almost always been strained, and problems have escalated recently. This cannot but affect trade and economic relations. However, despite all the difficulties, foreign trade between Russia and the United States is active. Trade turnover in 2020 amounted to almost USD 24 billion.

Features of import

America is actively exporting cars, various equipment, dietary supplements, chemical products to Russia.

The main feature of imports from America is that since 2014 the import of many food products has been banned, since this country fell under a food embargo that Russia imposed as retaliatory sanctions. It is prohibited to import from the USA:

• fish;

• milk;

• meat;

• products made from milk,

• fish and meat;

• vegetables;

• fruits;

• oils and fats of animal origin;

• live pigs (there are exceptions).
  

A complete list of products prohibited from the United States for import into the Russian Federation is published in the Appendix to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 778 dated August 7, 2014. There are also “cover goods codes” under which some importers try to smuggle prohibited goods. Customs is especially attentive to such categories of products.

Other features:

1. Many goods require a declaration of conformity or a quality certificate confirming compliance with the EAEU technical regulations.

2. As for dietary supplements, products containing plants with psychotropic properties are prohibited for import. You also need to provide a letter on the content of alcohol and CSR. Everywhere, in all documents, it is prescribed that the remedy is not a drug. During transportation, special conditions are observed in terms of temperature and humidity.

3. Cars are cleared through customs at excise customs posts.

4. Chemical products are most often classified as dangerous goods, may contain alcohol and narcotic substances. In this regard, appropriate permits and a security certificate are drawn up.

5. Tobacco products and alcohol are excisable and are not cleared at all customs posts. In addition, it is labeled: tobacco products - with excise stamps and CIMs (identification marks), alcohol - with federal special stamps (from 2021).

6. Notification of the FSB is issued for laptops, phones and other gadgets. By the way, to export goods to Russia, American suppliers need a special license from the US Department of Commerce. 

Export Features

Not all goods can be imported into the United States. The sanctions are mutual, and the United States, for its part, is tightening its requirements for imported products from Russia. Additionally, licenses and certificates may be required. For example, the United States has included Russia in the list of countries with which the export and import of weapons is prohibited.

The peculiarity of the export delivery is that it is necessary to confirm zero VAT. To do this, within 180 calendar days, you must provide a package of documentation and a tax return. This is followed by a desk audit.

You may need to provide an expert opinion that the goods are not subject to export control or permission to export goods.

Categories and types of imported and exported goods

Russian export supplies to the United States amounted to about $ 11 billion in monetary terms. The top position in terms of supply volume was occupied by:

• mineral products - 49.83% (TN VED 25-27);

• precious metals and stones - 19.66% (TN VED 71);

• metals and metal products - 11.03% (TN VED 72-83);

• chemical products - 10.92% (TN VED 28-40);

• equipment, machinery, transport - 2.41% (TN VED 84-90);

• wood and products of the pulp and paper industry - 1.95% (TN VED 44-49);

• food and agricultural raw materials - 1.14% (TN VED 01-24). 

In 2020, there was an increase in the volume of export goods relative to the category "Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals ..." by 673 million dollars. The export supplies of Russia in many directions decreased: oil products, ferrous metals and products from them, aluminum, fertilizers, ore, base metals and cermets, rubber and rubber, inorganic chemical products (TN VED 26, 27, 28, 31, 40, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84).

In the structure of imports in 2020, the following goods were in the lead:

• equipment, machinery and transport - 39.26% (TN VED 84-90);

• chemical products - 19.54% (TN VED 28-40);

• metals and metal products - 3.60% (TN VED 72-83);

• food and agricultural raw materials - 3.36% (TN VED 01-24). 

Copper imports increased (TN VED 74), but imports of land vehicles, electrical equipment, pharmaceutical and other chemical products, mechanical devices (TN VED 30, 38, 84, 85, 87) decreased.

Features of cargo transportation between Russia and America

 The United States and Russia are located on different continents, so, the main transport used to transport goods is sea and air. And since both Russia and the United States occupy a large territory, in order to deliver products from different points of the country to the place of loading or to the customer, the assistance of a road and rail transport is needed. Thus, at least two types of transport are used.

Sea traffic is the most financially profitable way of transporting goods across the ocean. The most developed direction of deliveries across the Atlantic Ocean to the ports of St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, but if you need to deliver cargo to the Far East, then it is sent across the Pacific Ocean to Vladivostok or Nakhodka.

• from New York to St. Petersburg, and then to Moscow by a cargo truck;

• Los Angeles to Vladivostok followed by domestic rail transportation;

• from Chicago to the port of Bronka, and then rail delivery to the client. 

Advantages of air transportation

 Without air transportation, fast transportation of goods from the United States to Russia or vice versa would be impossible. Together with other types of transportation, aviation is used as part of multimodal schemes, which makes it possible to deliver goods "door-to-door".

Popular destinations:

• from J. Kennedy airport in New York to Moscow Domodedovo airport;

• from Los Angeles International Airport to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, and from there by truck to Russia. 
  

Air delivery is necessary when it comes to the transportation of perishable goods, urgent cargo, urgent documentation. At the same time, it is especially important to correctly fill out the accompanying documents, carefully organize logistics at each stage, otherwise the advantage in terms of time will be lost. At the same time, this is the most expensive method of transportation, so it is used only when it is economically justified. Delivery time - from 2 days.

SB Cargo is an accredited cargo agent of IATA, an international organization that unites most of the air carriers. This gives us the opportunity to contact air carriers directly, enjoy more favorable tariffs and quickly carry out work with the cargo.

Customs clearance