PARIS, August 7 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s embargo on agricultural products from countries that backed US-led sanctions on Moscow could trigger a crisis in the European market, the chief of France’s largest farmers’ association told iTele channel Thursday.
“France, and also Poland and Baltic states, account for a large part of Russia’s imports. On the other hand, as Russia closes the door on [EU] imports, products that are no longer exported outside [the EU] will rebound on European countries and create a crisis situation,” Xavier Beulin, the president of the National Federation of Agricultural Producers (FNSEA), warned.
“Russia exports cereals, but it is also a major importer of fruits and vegetables, as well as processed foods, such as meat and dairy,” Beulin added.
The head of FNSEA, which is the main farmers’ syndicate in France, said he hoped that the World Trade Organization (WTO) would press Russia to lift its ban on agricultural products.
The WTO said earlier today it had not received any complaints from the Western countries regarding the Russian foods embargo as of yet.
On Thursday, Russia unveiled its list of banned agriculture products from the United States, European Union and other countries that imposed US-backed sanctions against Russia earlier.
The one-year ban will target imports of beef, pork, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, nuts, as well as cheese and other dairy from the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway. The embargo does not include alcoholic beverages, infant foods and products.
At the height of the Ukrainian crisis, the United States imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russian officials, business people and companies and pressed for the allies in the West to follow its lead. The European Union, Canada, and Australia soon caved in to the US sanctions push and drew up their own blacklists.
Moscow said it is ready to review the terms of its import restrictions if Western partners show commitment to dialogue. The Kremlin has repeatedly called Western sanctions counterproductive and stressed that Russia was never involved in the Ukrainian conflict.
