Cabinet sanction: foreign furniture may be subject to a protective duty
In Russia, the possibility of imposing a protective duty on the import of furniture from unfriendly countries is being discussed. The measure was considered during one of the government meetings, Izvestia learned. The reason is a 6.9% decrease in domestic production of these products in 2025 and the risk of a deterioration in dynamics in 2026. Now furniture from unfriendly countries enters the Russian Federation through the CIS countries. According to industry representatives, over the past four years, the economy of such countries could receive about 120-130 billion rubles due to supplies to the Russian Federation. What the introduction of protective duties will lead to and how it will affect the market is in the Izvestia article.
Measures to tighten the import of furniture into the Russian Federation
The supply of imported furniture to Russia from unfriendly countries may become more complicated — the cabinet is discussing the introduction of protective duties on such products. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the subcommittee on improving the sustainability of individual industries. It operates under the Government commission for improving the sustainability of the domestic economy under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Izvestia reviewed the document following the meeting.
According to an editorial source in government agencies, the elaboration of the measure is related to a decrease in production in the Russian furniture industry and the need to introduce support measures.
According to the results of 2025, the industrial production index in the industry amounted to -6.9% compared to the level of 2024, the document says. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2026, output may grow by 1.5–2%, subject to the implementation of support measures. However, according to an industry source, there is a continuing trend towards a further decline in production in 2026.
Izvestia sent inquiries to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development.
— Today, furniture is not on the list of goods for parallel import. As a result, it can enter the Russian Federation as "union" products without additional duties. The Federal Customs Service is fighting this by adding them (up to 35-50%) retroactively. In fact, this is a "gray zone" that they want to close," economist Dmitry Prokofiev explained to Izvestia.
The amount of the possible protective duty has not yet been approved. However, according to the expert, its level may be comparable to the previously applied rates for other goods and amount to about 35-50%.
So, in 2023, Russia imposed a protective duty of 50% on plywood imports from unfriendly countries, as well as 35% on polyurethane construction parts, the Ministry of Economic Development reported. In addition, today there is a customs duty on the import of cars into the Russian Federation: in some cases, it may exceed 50% of the cost of the vehicle, but the final rate depends on the characteristics of the car. In particular, the amount is affected by the age of the car and the engine capacity.
According to Dmitry Prokofiev, if a protective duty is imposed on foreign furniture, domestic manufacturers may gain a price advantage. But the problem of the industry is not so much in imports as in expensive loans, rising costs and weak competitiveness in the premium segment, he believes.
— As a result, this may affect the cost of products: imported — due to duties, domestic — due to an increase in the cost of components and an overall increase in manufacturers' costs. Furniture is also components (fittings, fabrics) that are partially not produced in the Russian Federation. Therefore, a possible increase in duties on them can further increase the cost of local products," the expert noted.
Protective duties are a tactical tool, but not a strategic one, they do not replace modernization and increased production efficiency, the specialist added.
How does a business assess a possible measure?
Alexander Shestakov, General Director of the First Furniture Factory, president of the Association of Furniture and Woodworking Industry Enterprises of Russia (AMDPR), told Izvestia that the association positively assesses the measure under discussion to introduce a protective duty.
— Over the past four years, about 120-130 billion rubles have "got" into the economy of unfriendly countries from us. The figures speak for themselves: we lost the money, our manufacturers did not receive it. Moreover, if the funds had remained here in the Russian Federation, then some of them would have been used to purchase domestic components, such as wood slabs. It would be a multiplicative effect," said Alexander Shestakov.
The import duty on imported furniture is currently in the range of 9 to 11%, depending on the category of goods. This is one of the lowest rates in the countries where these products are produced, stressed Alexander Shestakov. According to him, in all other countries the figure starts from about 20%.
According to AMDPR, in 2022-2025, the volume of furniture supplies from unfriendly countries ranged from 22 to 35 billion rubles annually.
Izvestia sent inquiries to other manufacturers.
AMDPR confirmed that by the end of 2025, a decrease in the manufacture of these domestic products was recorded, and this trend continued in the first quarter of 2026.
— The index of production in the industry is steadily decreasing, there are objective prerequisites for this. But this is not exactly a recession, but rather a decrease in consumer activity in the furniture market, because these products are not essential goods, so their purchase is postponed in turbulent times," said Alexander Shestakov.
As Izvestia wrote with reference to data from Sberindex, Russians in general began to reduce spending on non-food products and services, while increasing food costs. The Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-term Forecasting informed Izvestia that citizens had significantly reduced their spending at the beginning of the year.
According to Dmitry Tortev, a member of the expert council of the State Duma Committee for the Protection of Competition, the effectiveness of the measure discussed in the government will depend not so much on the chosen market protection tool or the amount of duties, as on the ability of Russian factories to increase the production of high-quality products in demand by consumers.
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