Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Russia sanctions: Why the U.S. and Europe are not quite in step

Russia sanctions: Why the U.S. and Europe are not quite in step
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The West's tricky trade relationship with Russia

By Irene Chapple and Ivana Kottasova, CNN
updated 11:17 AM EDT, Tue April 15, 2014
This map shows the general routes of the main gas pipelines that go through Ukraine, and the EU's dependence on Russia for energy. Design: Inez Torre/CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Russia risks being isolated by the West as it introduces visa bans and threatens more sanctions
  • But the European Union is reliant on Russia for its energy supplies, and has strong trade links
  • Trade is not so important between Russia and U.S., which is becoming energy self-sufficient
  • These differences have impacted the economic approaches to Russia amid the crisis in Ukraine
(CNN) -- Ukraine, battered by the escalating conflict with pro-Russian activists, has hiked its bank rates as it attempts to protect its economy against the turmoil triggered by violent protests and Russia's military intervention in Crimea.
The move comes after the West introduced sanctions over the conflict, with more expected. But Russian President Vladimir Putin remains bullish, clashing with U.S. President Barack Obama over the worsening crisis during a conversation Monday.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to expand the list of those subject to sanctions and took further steps to help Ukraine economically, as Kiev's interim government continued to seek closer ties to the West.
So far the EU has imposed financial and visa restrictions around 30 Russian and Ukrainian officials -- but stopped short of measures that would hit trade.
Russia is deeply integrated in the global economy, and links with the EU are particularly strong. Here's the background to Russia's relationship with the West.
How important is Russia's economy?
Russia is the eight biggest economy in the world, with GDP of more than $2 trillion. Its economy -- which is heavily reliant on commodities, particularly oil and gas -- is expected to grow only slightly in 2014 to around $2.4 trillion. Hopes it would be one of the decade's powerhouse economies have faded, with its GDP growing just 1.3% last year compared to 2012, one of the sharpest slowdowns in the emerging markets.
Russia boomed in the late 1990s and early 2000s as energy prices rose, then stumbled as demand for commodities contracted. But its energy supplies remain vitally important for the European Union, to which it supplies a third of its natural gas. Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, imports around 40% of its gas from Russia.
With the Ukraine crisis taking its toll, Russia's economy may not grow at all in 2014, some analysts have warned.
What is Russia's economic relationship with the U.S?
Obama: The world should support Ukraine
Obama orders sanctions over Ukraine
The economic relationship between Russia and the U.S. is unbalanced. Russia is the 20th largest trading partner for the U.S., with $27 billion worth of trade exported across the Atlantic. On the flip-side, the U.S. is Russia's fifth largest partner, with just $11 billion worth of trade.
Barroso: Ukrainian goal is convergence
According to Russian Foundation chair David Clark, trade is a "relatively unimportant" component of relations. Energy links are also weakening as the U.S. looks to shale gas for its energy supplies and heads towards self-sufficiency.
However, in March the U.S. State Department imposed a visa ban on Russian and Ukrainian officials and individuals "responsible for, or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." An expansion of the sanctions has been threatened.
Russia's trade flows
What is Russia's economic relationship with the EU?
The EU is Russia's largest trading partner, and there are deep economic links between the two. Almost half of Russia's exports -- $292 billion worth -- end up in EU countries. Russia, in turn, is the third biggest trading partner for the EU, with $169 billion in imports.
The EU initially stepped more cautiously than the U.S. on sanctions. However, on Monday, the EU said it would reinforce sanctions and target an additional four people in its sanctions. This will bring the total number of people subject to EU asset freezes to 22.
Members of the G8 have also said they will not attend a planned summit in Sochi this June, instead meeting in Brussels without Russia.
Meanwhile, the West has offered $16 billion in aid for Ukraine, helping the country prop up its ailing finances. The International Monetary Fund has also said Ukraine has $14 billion to $18 billion credit available if required.
Why did the U.S. and EU approach Russia differently?
The eurozone has only just emerged from its own crisis, and commentators say it could be wary of rapidly cutting ties with such a powerful economic partner. Its reliance on gas out of Russia would also feed caution. In contrast, the U.S. is weaning itself off Russia's energy supplies and its trade relationship is much less intertwined.
CNNMoney's Mark Thompson contributed to this report
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 Russia sanctions: Why the U.S. and Europe are not quite in step

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