United Russia invited retailers and industry unions to sign agreements to reduce prices

The United Russia party recommends that the government of the Russian Federation promote the conclusion of agreements between retail chains and industry unions to reduce markups on essential products. The set of measures was announced on Monday by State Duma Vice Speaker Alexei Gordeev at a United Russia meeting to curb food prices.

"I propose that the Russian government recommend that retail chains urgently sign agreements with industry unions and associations of agricultural producers under the control of the relevant ministries to reduce trade margins for socially significant food products, primarily vegetable products. Also establish the right of executive authorities of the regions to control the implementation of these agreements on the ground" Gordeev said.

According to him, it is necessary to organize deliveries of agricultural products from producers in the regions for their sale in city markets and fairs without intermediaries for the entire harvesting period. "To coordinate the solution of these tasks, we propose to create a working group or headquarters at the federal level and in the regions," he specified.

In addition, United Russia recommends that the Cabinet of Ministers create a working group to improve legislation to strike a balance between the interests of agricultural producers and retail chains and provide for measures to support the construction of storage sites for agricultural products at small and medium-sized agribusinesses from 2022 in the agricultural development program. Among other party initiatives is a return to the topic of creating agricultural cooperatives from local producers and attracting labor migrants during the period of field and harvesting work.

Suppliers demand to raise purchase prices for products 

As Gordeev pointed out with reference to the results of United Russia's monitoring, the cost of agricultural products sold by producers can now differ by several times from the final price on store shelves.