RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SIMPLIFY TAX SYSTEM.

Federal Tax Service chief Vladimir Gusev told Interfax June 12 that his agency is lobbying for a bill that would reduce the number of federal and regional taxes, and would restrict the authority of regional governments to impose new ones. In some regions, the number of separate taxes has reached 60, Gusev said, complicating the lives of Russian businessmen and discouraging foreign investment. Moscow officials have made such promises before, but regional interests have successfully blocked any change.

Foreign Trade Ministry Wants to Aid Exporters.