Export duties scare distilleries

European Union plans to charge duties on imports of Russian vodka and ethyl alcohol has alarmed Russian exporters. These duties "will have serious negative effect on Russia's positioning on the world market," Andrei Skurikhin, general director of the Soyuzplodimport company, has told Interfax. "It's not important what volume of exported products is at issue. What is important is what effect this measure will have on the perception of Russia as a world trade entity."