The World - News from Jan. 2, 1989

In an apparent attempt to combat shortages and fight the black market, the Soviet Union imposed a two-year ban preventing individuals from taking many consumer goods, including caviar and television sets, out of the country. The ban applies only to individuals traveling out of the country and does not affect commercial export contracts. Besides a complete ban on the export of certain goods, other commodities will be subject to an export tax of between 20% and 100% of their retail value. The ban is evidently aimed at cutting back on illegal trade with certain East Bloc countries.