In the section Articles
Title of the article Decomposition Analysis of the Effects of Sanctions on Foreign Trade in the Russian Far East
Pages 32-66
Author Dmitriy Aleksandrovich Izotov
Doctor of Economics, Leading Research Fellow
Economic Research Institute FEB RAS
153 Tikhookeanskaya St., Khabarovsk, 680042, Russian Federation
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ORCID: 0000-0001-9199-6226
Abstract The objective of this study is to conduct a decomposition of the impact of sanctions on trade between the Russian Far East and foreign countries during the 1999–2021 period. A downward trend in the Far Eastern trade with foreign countries involved in the sanctions standoff with Russia has been identified. Based on structural gravity models, it was determined that the immediate direct and cumulative effects of sanctions reduced trade in the Russian Far East with foreign countries involved in a sanctions standoff with Russia by an average of 42.1% and 54.8%, respectively. It was found that the immediate and cumulative effects of sanctions had a more negative impact on the Far East’s trade with foreign countries toward Russia (by 55.4%) than on trade from Russia toward foreign countries (by 54.0%), respectively. It was found that trade sanctions accounted for the overall negative impact of sanctions restrictions on the Far East’s foreign trade. A moderating effect of globalization on the negative impact of sanctions on the Far East’s foreign trade was observed, although this effect weakened as the Far Eastern economy shifted toward other foreign markets. It was found that, for the Far East’s foreign trade, the effect of globalization had a mitigating impact on the negative effects of sanctions imposed by Russia against foreign countries that was half as strong as that on sanctions imposed by foreign countries against Russia. An assessment of the overall effect of sanctions indicated that restrictions imposed by Russia against foreign countries had a greater negative impact on Far Eastern trade, rather than the reverse, due to the lesser mitigating effect of globalization. It is shown that, by 2022, Russia’s sanctions standoff with foreign countries created conditions for a shift in the Far East’s foreign trade, predominantly toward the nearby and large Chinese market, with the aim of reducing sanctions risks in favor of those foreign countries that did not participate in the sanctions
Code 339+338+330
JEL C23, F14, R12
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2026.1.032-066
Keywords trade, sanctions, direct and cumulative effects of sanctions, immediate and overall effects of sanctions, globalization effect, region, foreign market, domestic market, Russia, Far East
Download SE.2026.1.032-066.Izotov.pdf
For citation Izotov D.A. Decomposition Analysis of the Effects of Sanctions on Foreign Trade in the Russian Far East. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2026, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 32–66. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2026.1.032-066 (In Russian)
References 1. Baldwin R., Taglioni D. Trade Effects of the Euro: A Comparison of Estimators. Journal of Economic Integration, 2007, vol. 22, issue 4, pp. 780–818. https://doi.org/10.11130/jei.2007.22.4.780
2. Bayramov V., Rustamli N., Abbas G. Collateral Damage: The Western Sanctions on Russia and the Evaluation of Implications for Russia’s Post-Communist Neighbourhood. International Economics, 2020, vol. 162, pp. 92–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2020.01.002
3. Borin A., Conteduca F.P., Stefano E.D., Gunnella V., Mancini M., Panon L. Trade Decoupling from Russia. International Economics, 2023, vol. 175, pp. 25–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2023.05.001
4. Campos R.G., Estefania-Flores J., Furceri D., Timini J. Geopolitical Fragmentation and Trade. Journal of Comparative Economics, 2023, vol. 51, issue 4, pp. 1289–1315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2023.06.008
5. Dabrowski M., Avdasheva S. Sanctions and Forces Driving to Autarky. The Contemporary Russian Economy. Edited by M. Dabrowski. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023, pp. 271–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17382-0_14
6. Dai M., Felbermayr G., Kirilakha A., Syropoulos C., Yalcin E., Yotov Y. Timing the Impact of Sanctions on Trade. School of Economics. Working Paper Series 2021-7, 2021, 47 p. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hnOl53dBqtdrDJqFZTk9rU5RPrfpY_lB/view?usp=sharing (accessed January 2026).
7. Dreger C., Kholodilin K.A., Ulbricht D., Fidrmuc J. Between the Hammer and the Anvil: The Impact of Economic Sanctions and Oil Prices on Russia’s Ruble. Journal of Comparative Economics, 2016, vol. 44, issue 2, pp. 295–308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2015.12.010
8. Drott C., Goldbach S., Nitsch V. The Effects of Sanctions on Russian Banks in TARGET2 Transactions Data. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 2024, vol. 219, pp. 38–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.12.030
9. Duong K.T., Huynh L.D.T., Phan A.D.B., Vu N.T. From Russia with Love: International Risk-Sharing, Sanctions, and Firm Investments. Economics Letters, 2024, vol. 244, 112005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2024.112005
10. Earl A. Methodological Issues in Examining Sanctions: Reflections on Conducting Research in Russia. Tourism Management Perspectives, 2021, vol. 39, 100858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100858
11. Fisman R., Marcolongo G., Wu M. The Undoing of Economic Sanctions: Evidence from the Russia-Ukraine Conflict. Journal of Public Economics, 2025, vol. 24, 105470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105470
12. Hinz J., Monastyrenko E. Bearing the Cost of Politics: Consumer Prices and Welfare in Russia. Journal of International Economics, 2022, vol. 137. 103581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2022.103581
13. Izotov D.A. Impact of Integration and Geopolitical Factors on Trade of the Russian Far East. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2024, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 40–70. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2024.2.040-070 (In Russian).
14. Izotov D.A. Integration of the Russian Economy with the Asia-Pacific Countries: Opportunities and Risks. Izvestiya Dalnevostochnogo Federalnogo Universiteta. Ekonomika i Upravlenie = The Bulletin of the Far Eastern Federal University. Economics and Management, 2022, vol. 102, no. 2, pp. 28–47. https://dx.doi.org/10.24866/2311-2271/2022-2/28-47 (In Russian).
15. Izotov D.A. Russian Far East’ Investment Cooperation with Sub-Global Economic Structu-res under the Conditions of the National Economy’s Recession. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2018, no. 1, pp. 138–153. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2018.1.138-153 (In Russian).
16. Izotov D.A. Trade and Investment Interactions in the Asia-Pacific Region: Long-Term Effects of Sanctions. Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika = Spatial Economics, 2025, no. 21, no. 3, pp. 42–71. https://dx.doi.org/10.14530/se.2025.3.042-071 (In Russian).
17. Khalid U., Gopalan S., Zekkari K.B. Do Sanctions Deter Greenfield FDI Inflows? An Empirical Investigation. Economic Modelling, 2026, vol. 155. 107421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107421
18. Khalid U., Okafor L., Burzynska K. Sanctions and Tourist Flows: The Roles of Religion and Geography. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 2024, vol. 5, issue 2, 100143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annale.2024.100143
19. Kwon O., Nagengast A.J., Yoon J., Yotov Y.V. From Imposition to Lifting: Estimating the Effects of Sanctions over Their Lifecycle. Deutsche Bundesbank. Discussion Paper No. 06/2026. https://doi.org/10.71734/DP-2026-6
20. Larch M., Luckstead J., Yotov Y.V. Economic Sanctions and Agricultural Trade. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2024, vol. 106, issue 4, pp. 1477–1517. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12473
21. Li Z., Li T. Economic Sanctions and Regional Differences: Evidence from Sanctions on Russia. Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 6112. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106112
22. Liu X.M., Qiu H.J. The Impact of International Sanctions on Food Security and Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG-2). Public Health, 2024, vol. 235, pp. 128–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.07.002
23. Malle S. Economic Sovereignty. An Agenda for Militant Russia. Russian Journal of Economics, 2016, vol. 2, issue 2, pp. 111–128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ruje.2016.06.001
24. Nguyen T.T., Do M.H. Impact of Economic Sanctions and Counter-Sanctions on the Russian Federation’s Trade. Economic Analysis and Policy, 2021, vol. 71, pp. 267–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2021.05.004
25. Pak O., Kretzschmar G.L. Western Sanctions – Only Half the Challenge to Russia’s Economic Union // Research in International Business and Finance, 2016, vol. 38, pp. 577–592. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2016.07.009
26. Research Handbook on Economic Sanctions. Edited by P.A.G. van Bergeijk. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021, 496 p.
27. Shakib M., Sohag K., Hassan M.K., Vasilyeva R. Finance and Export Diversifications Nexus in Russian Regions: Role of Trade Globalization and Regional Potential. Emerging Markets Review, 2023, vol. 57, 101059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2023.101059
28. Shida Y. Russian Business under Economic Sanctions: Is There Regional Heterogeneity? ERINA. Discussion Papers 1903e, 2019, 30 p. Available at: https://www.unii.ac.jp/erina-unp/archive/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DP1903e.pdf (accessed January 2026).
29. Shingal A. Economic Sanctions and Domestic Diversion. Economics Letters, 2024, vol. 244, 111999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111999
30. Stepanov A.V., Burnasov A.S., Valiakhmetova G.N., Ilyushkina M.Y. The Impact of Economic Sanctions on the Industrial Regions of Russia (the Case of Sverdlovsk Region). R-Economy, 2022, vol. 8, issue 3, pp. 295–305. https://doi.org/10.15826/recon.2022.8.3.023
31. Tyazhelnikov V., Romalis J. Russian Counter-Sanctions and Smuggling: Forensics with Structural Gravity Estimation. Journal of International Economics, 2024, vol. 152, 104014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104014
32. Yilmazkuday H. Geopolitical Tensions and Trade: Mitigating through Partner Diversification. Journal of Economics and Business, 2025, 106274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconbus.2025.106274
33. Yotov Y.V. Gravity at Sixty: The Workhorse Model of Trade. CESifo. Working Paper No. 9584, 2022, 45 p. Available at: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/cesifo1_wp9584.pdf (accessed January 2026).
34. Yotov Y.V., Piermartini R., Monteiro J.-A., Larch M. An Advanced Guide to Trade Policy Analysis: The Structural Gravity Model. World Trade Organization, 2016, 140 p. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/advancedwtounctad2016_e.pdf (accessed January 2026).
35. Zemtsov S.P. Sanctions Risks and Regional Development: Russian Case. Baltic Region, 2024, vol. 16, issue 1, pp. 23–45. https://doi.org/10.5922/2079-8555-2024-1-2
36. Zhou J., Wang S., Duan H. The Impact of Trade Sanctions on Financial Risk: Empirical Evidence from Global Data. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 2025, vol. 94, 102945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2025.102945
Financing The article was prepared within the framework of the state assignment for research of the Institute of Economic Research of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Submitted 11.03.2026
Approved after reviewing 23.03.2026
Accepted for publication 25.03.2026
Available online 10.04.2026

ISSN (Print) 1815-9834
ISSN (Online) 2587-5957

Minakir Pavel Aleksandrovich,

Journal’s Founder

 

Artem Isaev
Editor-in-Chief
Tel.: +7 (4212) 725-225
Fax: +7 (4212) 225-916
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Samokhina Lyudmila
Executive Editor
Tel.: +7 (4212) 725-230
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Editors
Tel.: +7 (4212) 725-230
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 
To Editorial Staff of “Spatial Economics”
Economic Research Institute FEB RAS
153 Tikhookeanskaya St., Khabarovsk, RUSSIA, 680042

 

 

Creative Commons License
Unless otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License