Russia is considering whether to levy a 30 percent tax on imports from foreign online retailers and restrict the number of parcels imported. The proposed tax, which would be imposed on imports worth more than RUB7, 000 (USD 202), is intended to protect local operators.
The proposed measures would come as a blow to international online retailers. With nearly 70m internet users, Russia is the largest internet market in Europe. Although at present only two percent of retail sales in Russia occur online, the percentage is expected to increase to five percent, more than tripling the size of the domestic online retail market by 2015, according to Morgan Stanley.
