Exemption of HP and Fujitsu Laptops and Computers from Parallel Importation Practice
Rewritten Article:
Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade has given a cold shoulder to tech giants Hewlett Packard (HP) and Fujitsu, along with several foreign printer and multifunctional device brands, by axing them from the parallel import list. This move is a part of Russia's strategy to boost domestic production and reinforce trade channels.
According to the ministry, the elimination of these brands from the parallel import list is connected to the growth of import substitution processes and the increased supply of goods from friendly nations. Current Russian manufacturers can produce around 100,000 devices, with the potential to ramp up production. The total market capacity for laser printing equipment in Russia annually stands at approximately 800,000 devices, with around 40% of them arriving via parallel import, as reported by TASS.
With the removal of HP and Fujitsu laptops and PCs from the domestic market, their market share now amounts to 8.6%. The ministry thinks that domestic manufacturers have the capacity to replace goods imported from unfriendly countries.
This strategic shift towards promoting domestic manufacturing and tightening trade control comes with a handful of driving factors:
- Boosting Domestic Manufacturing: The ministry is reducing its dependence on foreign goods by obstructing parallel imports, as local manufacturers are now considered capable of meeting consumer demand in certain sectors. Although specific references to HP or Fujitsu are absent from reports, the scope of the policy likely covers categories like electronics, where local production has supposedly increased.
- Sanctions Evasion and Retaliation: Parallel imports, initially expanded in May 2022 to circumvent Western sanctions, encompassed 100 categories of goods, including electronics. However, the latest measures indicate a dual focus:
- Reducing "gray-market" dependency: Authorities are working to limit vulnerabilities in supply chains caused by sanctions.
- Pressuring foreign companies: By restricting access, Russia may motivate Western firms to re-enter the market and negotiate asset buybacks under strict terms.
- Political and Economic Strategy: The ministry's updated policy switches from approving entire product categories to selectively approving brands, preferencing goods deemed scarce domestically. This approach mirrors attempts to create a self-reliant economy while reacting against "unfriendly" states through means like compulsory patent licensing and asset seizures. The exclusion of specific brands likely reflects negotiations with returning companies or a calculated move to direct consumers toward substitutes subject to sanctions.
Although the specific reasons for axing HP and Fujitsu aren't explicitly stated, the broader pattern suggests a combination of protectionism, sanctions mitigation, and geopolitical maneuvering.
Moscow, Elena Volodina
© 2025, RIA "Novyi Den"
- The unfriendly tech industry, particularly Hewlett Packard (HP) and Fujitsu, may soon find their products unaffected in Moscow, as Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade deliberately excluded them from the parallel import list.
- With the elimination of foreign brands like HP and Fujitsu, domestic manufacturers, equipped to produce around 100,000 devices, are being entrusted with the mission of replacing imports from unfriendly countries, holding a market share of approximately 100,000 devices out of the total 800,000 annually.
- The Russian finance sector may witness a significant shift, as domestic manufacturers are now incentivized to ramp up production in response to government initiatives, aiming for the substitution of imported goods and tightening trade control.
- As the world watches, Moscow's move to selectively approve specific brands for various product categories can be interpreted as a strategic step towards creating a self-reliant economy, employing methods such as compulsory patent licensing and asset seizures, in response to aggressive trade practices from unfriendly nations.
