MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - New sanctions targeting Russia could have a negative impact on the country’s business environment and ties with the United States, Tom Thomson, the owner and founder of international business and strategic communications consultancy T.Thomson & Associates, told RIA Novosti Saturday.
“The new round of sanctions and Russia's likely counter response will be of no help to the already complicated business environment between the United States and Russia,” Thomson said.
The new sanctions will impact economies of both countries, he said.
“The drop in inbound and outbound investments in technology, energy and manufacturing is a loss to both economies. Notwithstanding, the US-Russia commercial engagement in multiple industry sectors remains deep and vibrant," Thomson said.
Restrictions on offshore and shale oil extraction technologies issued to Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Surgutneftega, and Rosneft will significantly damage cooperative projects such as Rosneft’s partnership with American multinational oil and gas corporation, Exxon Mobil, currently involved in a joint project in Russia’s Arctic region, the T.Thomson & Associates founder elaborated.
Although most American companies operating on Russian soil have not been affected effected by sanctions, excluding Visa and MasterCard, Russia’s promised countermeasures could be a game changer, Thomson added.
"I remain hopeful that the current ceasefire in Ukraine will lead to a multilateral diplomatic resolution and steps towards normalizing the US-Russia commercial engagement,” Thomson concluded.
The US Treasury Department confirmed on Friday that it was expanding sanctions against Russian companies targeting Russian entities in the financial, energy and defense sectors. A new set of European Union sanctions against Russia came into force the same day.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed countermeasures will be introduced in order to protect Russia’s interests.
