The Russian Ambassador to Norway, Teimuraz Ramishvili, commented to RIA News that bilateral commerce has contracted sharply since the start of 2023, with trade activity down by roughly 80 percent. He noted that Norway has aligned with almost all EU sanctions on Russia, with only a few notable exceptions.
Ramishvili explained that the decline in trade was most pronounced in the supply of Russian goods to Norway. A portion of these products had been tied to contracts signed before February 24, 2022, which could not be easily annulled by new sanctions rules. As a result, Russia’s share of Norway’s total trade turnover from January through August 2023 fell to well under 1 percent, underscoring a substantial reorientation in bilateral commerce. (Source: RIA Novosti)
In a related assessment, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin highlighted a separate trend in Russia’s broader trade relationships. He indicated that Russia’s trade turnover with China rose by about 27 percent in January–September 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, achieving a total around 16 trillion rubles. This points to a shift in Russia’s external trade patterns amid ongoing global sanctions pressure and efforts to diversify trade partners. (Source: Official remarks from the Russian government)
A cautious note was added to the discussion, emphasizing the need to temper optimism about any immediate or sweeping changes. The government and its observers have consistently urged prudence in interpreting short-term fluctuations in bilateral and regional trade, especially against a backdrop of sanctions regimes and evolving geopolitical dynamics. (Source: Government briefings)