Russia-US Relations

This Friday, US decision to impose extra duties on foreign steel and

aluminum products, came into effect. As a retaliatory measure, Russia
imposed extra duties from 25% to 40% on US imports. Russia’s Ministry of
Economic Development also said that “Russia may introduce in three years
additional duties on the import of goods from the United States as a
retaliatory measure, since the current countermeasures do not completely
cover the damage to Russian exporters caused by the actions of the US
authorities.”
While a global trade war is going on, Trump is meeting Putin in Helenski,
today. Russian officials say that’ although they are not too optimistic about
the outcomes of the summit, yet they want Trump to lessen pressure on
third party countries such as India and Vietnam for maintaining military
and economic ties with Russia. Trump has also signaled to soften up on the
sanction, but his erratic behavior has so far proved that his signals are often
misleading.
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/trump-putin-summit-view-moscow-
25681
http://tass.com/economy/1012211

NORD Stream II Project

Another news item is on NORD Stream II project. AS you all know it’s a
Russian-led gas pipeline initiative which has become controversial over the
Crimean Conflict. Germany has issued the tenders to all of its companies
which are involved in this project and remained adamant on laying the
pipeline. In the recent NATO summit, Trump accused Germany of being
“captive to Russia” and pressured it to rethink about the gas project and
consider importing US liqueified natural gas.
“It’s very sad when Germany makes massive oil and gas deals with Russia.”
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/trump-vs-nord-stream-2/

Putin extends ban on Western food import

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended a ban on Western food
imports for another 18 months after the European Union’s decision to
prolong its broader, punitive sanctions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Putin’s Thursday decree keeps the food ban in place until Dec. 31, 2019. It
follows the EU’s move to extend its restrictions until year’s end.
The US and the EU introduced several rounds of sanctions to punish Russia
for the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and support for separatist rebels in
eastern Ukraine. They made lifting restrictions contingent on the progress
of a 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine. Russia argues that the peace
agreement has floundered at Ukraine’s fault.
The sanctions have hurt the Russian economy, restricting access to global
financial markets and cutting imports of key technologies.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/07/12/putin-extends-ban-on-
western-food-imports/

Pakistan-Russia Relations
About Russian oil refinery in Kohat, there is no update except that a
feasibility report was to be produced. Now, it has been four months, no
news.
Russian business delegation was to viist Pakistan, no new on that either.
Russian-led gas pipine from Karachi to Lahore, MoU signed but no news.
India-Russia
Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh
Rosatom, Russia’s state-run nuclear cooperation, has begun to construct
the second unit Bangaldesh’ first nuclear power plant. (inaugural ceremony
held on July 14)
The Rooppur nuclear power plant construction is performed according to
the Intergovernmental Russian-Bangladesh agreement on cooperation in
the area of NPP construction on the territory of the People’s Republic of
Bangladesh of November 2, 2011. On December 25, 2015, the General
Contract for designing, construction and commissioning of two NPP power
units based on 1200 Mwe VVER-reactors each on the Rooppur NPP site
was signed. The construction of the first power unit of the nuclear power
plant started in November 2017. On July 8, 2018, the Bangladeshi Atomic
Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted a license for design and
construction of Rooppur NPP's second power.
But the interesting development here is that Deputy General for
Operations Management of Rosatom has offred Indian companies to
participate in this project. On Friday, Indian Defense Minsiter, Nirmala
Sitharaman took a strong stand against the US sanctions on Russia, stating
“US sanctions on Russia is not a UN act, it’s a US act…India is not bound
by internal laws of the US, so it is going ahead with Russian weapons
purchase (S-4440 air defense system)

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201807141066344638-roastom-constructs-
bangladesh-npp/

More:
http://tass.com/economy/1013181
Indian companies are welcome to participate in Ropuur Project (Russia-
India relations)
http://tass.com/economy/1013181