Russia has offered to impose retaliatory sanctions against the U.S. / topnews.ru
"An extravagant response” to the U.S. sanctions against Russia could be the introduction of higher excise taxes on the sale of soda drinks, which would affect Pepsi and Coca-Cola, according to First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Mikhail Yemelyanov, RIA Novosti reported.
"A measure, which is extravagant, but sensitive to the Americans, could be a long proposed introduction of higher excise taxes on the sale of soda drinks. First of all, Coca-Cola and Pepsi would be affected," said Yemelyanov.
Read alsoRussia cannot do without Visa, MasterCard security systemAnother responsive step of the Russian Federation to U.S. expanding sanctions would be prohibiting American financial consultants and auditors from providing services to Russian companies. It could also be the limiting of circulation in Russia of Visa and MasterCard, as well as possible reduction in the long term of purchases of Boeing aircraft, Yemelyanov believes.
He believes that the response of the Russian Federation may also regard the largest U.S. banks. According to Yemelyanov, this is a very important segment, which can be influenced.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the United States stepped up sanctions to pressure Russia to respect the security and sovereignty of Ukraine, adding to the sanctions list another 34 individuals and entities, as well as introducing new sanctions. In turn, the press secretary of the president of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow will review the decision of the United States on the anti-Russian sanctions and develop a response. Peskov also called the expansion of the U.S. sanctions list "a continuation of an irrational and hostile line toward Russia."