Will Russian products be banned in Georgia?

With the Russian aggression against Georgia continuing, there has been talk of banning the sale of Russian products in Georgia.

Russia is presently Georgia’s second largest trading partner, Turkey being the largest. Trade turnover between Russia and Georgia in 2007 was about USD 600 million. This figure was achieved in spite of the 2006 Russian embargo on the import of Georgian wine, mineral water and agricultural products, although Russia exported to Georgia throughout this period without restriction.

Georgian analysts think that the country can refuse to import anything except energy transport media from Russia. The Vice-President of the Georgian Chamber of Trade and Commerce Shota Makatsartia says that Georgia would need only 24-48 hours to substitute Russian imports with imports from any other country.

Makatsartia insists that Russian imports should be stopped as the Georgian import regime is very liberal and there is no appropriate quality control of the imported goods. The Georgian authorities usually trust the quality certificates from the country of origin of any goods without conducting further checks of their own. Makatsartia says that certificates issued in a country which is in a state of war with Georgia should not be trusted.