Is it new trade war inside Single economic space?

The Single economic space would not deliver allies from trade war.

Competitive struggle is expected to become tougher. Its participants will try to find support if national regulators. An attempt of the first trade war within the framework of the Single economic space has taken place de facto, “Zavtra tvoej strany” informs.

“Vagonmash”, St Petersburg – based manufacturer of trams, has addressed the directorate of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAMS) of St Petersburg with a complaint that the client, the State Transport Committee of St Petersburg, had formulated call for tenders for 6 trams’ procurement at the cost of 316 Russian rubles, that only a Belarusian “Belkommunmash” could be a winner.

It was “Vagonmash” which ensured all supplies for the needs of the city. All 760 tram cars for the city tram depot had been manufactured by them. But in late 2011 the website for government orders the Transport Committee placed an announcement that a tender would be held for buying 6 tram cars for shuttle routes. The new trams were to substitute the ones which had been worn out. The train should move in both directions on the same track, have three sections and low floor. Deliveries were to be carried out in 2012.

The tender was scheduled for January 30, 2012. Following the application of “Vagonmash”, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAMS) of St Petersburg initially promised to overturn the decision on holding the tender, at least until the end of investigation.

However organizers of the tender managed to persuade anti-monopoly committee members that such trams are necessary for the city, and that conditions of the tender had not been tailored for Belarusians only. One more Russian manufacturer of tram cars, Ust-Katavski carriage works, has sent out a call. Its offer was almost 50 mln Russian rubles lower than the starting price.

The fact that the tender has taken place and there were no consequences after “Vagonmash” complaint, does not alter the particularity of the fact. Within the framework of the Single economic space manufacturers from Russia and Belarus will be ready to resort to assistance of the national regulatory authorities.