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Rosagromash accuses Belarusian authorities of discrimination

The Russian Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers (Rosagromash), has accused Belarusian authorities of discriminating against Russian-made agricultural equipment, including farm tractors, grain combines and self-propelled forage harvesters.

“In the last three years, we have not managed to sell a single combine in Belarus, whereas Russia purchases thousands of Belarusian-made combines under government programs,” says Konstantin Babkin, chairman of the Rosagromash board of directors.

As an example of unfair competition, Rosagromash cites a recent bidding process in which Russia’s Rostselmash offered its grain combines at a price more than 15 percent lower than the established limit, but the Belarusian bidding commission intentionally set technical requirements that exclusively fit Belarus’ Homselmash.

Rosagromash notes in its statement that Belarusian authorities’ policy runs counter to agreements that were reached with regard to public purchases within the framework of the Common Economic Zone of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and that no restrictions of an administrative and technical nature are applied to Belarusian-made agricultural machinery in the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to Rosagromash, Belarus accounts for more than 60 percent of Russia’s tractor market and about 40 percent of its market of self-propelled forage harvesters.