Digest | 20 November – 27 November 2025

#digests

The dispute between marketplaces and banks over discounts remains the key regulatory issue. Despite government efforts to promote localization in the automotive industry, manufacturers are facing financial constraints, making transitional measures necessary. New initiatives to tackle the shadow economy are also likely to emerge soon. Rosstandart will develop a national standard (GOST) for digital product labeling.

Dispute Between Marketplaces and Banks Over Payment-Related Discounts Continues

On November 20, 2025, the heads of five major banks proposed banning marketplaces from subsidizing lower product prices and linking discounts to the payment method. The key positions are:

The Central Bank has backed the banks and proposed that the Ministry of Economic Development prohibit platforms from setting different prices depending on the payment method and from selling financial products offered by their affiliated banks on the platforms. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has been proposed as the regulator responsible for enforcement.

The FAS has stressed the need to comply with antitrust law and called for a balanced approach. The Ministry of Finance is also seeking a balanced solution, noting that its position is still being developed.

State Duma deputies are divided on the issue. Sergei Mironov, leader of the A Just Russia – For Truth faction, urged the Central Bank to prevent a decline in competition and higher prices resulting from the removal of discounts.

Restrictions on discounts would directly affect consumers. The Public Council of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) said that removing marketplace discounts could increase product prices by 15–20%. Wildberries and Ozon have confirmed that prices could rise. Representatives of Yandex Market said they are open to discussions.

Public Procurement of Russian Cars Could Be Extended to State-Owned Companies, While Recycling Fee Deadlines May Be Delayed Again

AvtoVAZ CEO Maxim Sokolov said that a “fundamental political decision has already been made” to expand public procurement of Russian-made cars, with only the legal framework still to be finalized. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Alexey Karimov said that the deadline for localized automakers to pay the recycling fee in 2026 could be postponed again. The deadline has already been moved several times to the end of the year to support manufacturers that have signed special investment contracts (SPICs).

Under their SPICs, automakers must reach a target localization level, currently set at 7,000 points. In September, however, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed lowering the threshold to 5,500 points.

Government Supports Quotas for Personally Owned Non-Localized Taxi Cars

In late October, the State Duma received a bill proposing amendments to the taxi localization law. The bill would allow self-employed taxi drivers to use personally owned non-localized vehicles until 2033, provided they have owned the vehicles for more than six months. The quota for such vehicles would be at least 25%.

The taxi localization law will come into force on March 1, 2026. From that date, only vehicles included in the approved list will be eligible for inclusion in the taxi register. To qualify, a vehicle must either score at least 3,200 localization points or have been manufactured under a SPIC signed between 2022 and 2025.

Government Prepares New Measures to Tackle the Shadow Economy

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the Government is preparing measures to reduce the size of the shadow economy, improve the collection of social insurance contributions and increase budget revenues. The plan could be adopted as early as this year.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin called for tougher action against the shadow economy and tax evasion. The Ministry of Finance estimates that the shadow economy accounts for 10–12% of GDP.

Rosstandart to Develop GOST Standard for Digital Product Labeling and Traceability

The development of the new GOST standard has been included in the 2026 National Standardization Program. The work is expected to be completed by December 2026. The standard will establish common requirements for digital solutions and software used in product labeling systems. Once approved at the national level, Russia may propose introducing the standard across the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

A common standard could make it easier for businesses to work with labeled products, but companies will need to adapt their existing processes to meet the new requirements.

2025-11-27 18:40