Russia Cuts Duties, Turns to Imports to Halt Potato Price Surge

Russia is taking steps to curb a spike in the price of potatoes, a vegetable ubiquitous in households throughout the country, as inflation continues to stoke worries for President Vladimir Putin’s economy.

The government authorized duty-free imports for as much as 150,000 tons of potatoes, according to a decree published on Friday. The import fees had been set at 5%.