The EU is not working to thwart Russian trade with Latin America and elsewhere in the world, EU spokesman Peter Stano tells RT.
Russia is seeking out new suppliers to fill the substantial gap
left after it banned food imports from the EU, US, Australia,
Canada, and Norway. However, the EU is reportedly trying to
interfere and persuade other countries not to gain from the EU’s
misfortune.
The Financial Times reported the EU is allegedly working to try
and convince Brazil, Chile, and other Latin American countries
not to meet Russia’s demand for agricultural products.
READ MORE: EU to urge Latin America not to export
food to Russia
“The EU is now assessing the impact of Russia’s announcement
on EU products. And we are of course in contact with other
countries, countries that could become potential suppliers for
goods that Russia has banned from its market from EU
producers,” spokesperson Peter Stano told RT in an
interview.
EU countries could be left with a large amount of produce they
aren’t able to sell. Russia imports roughly 30 percent of its
food supply from Europe, so the sudden halt could be a big blow
to the 28-nation bloc.
The EU denies they are putting pressure on third parties.
“We are not pressuring anyone- this is not the nature in
which the EU does policy,” Stano told RT.
Instead, Stano said the EU is explaining its side of the story,
and that Russia shouldn’t be seen as a legitimate player, since
sanctions are politically motivated.
“We are explaining our view [to partners, Ed.] that it’s not
beneficial for them to benefit from the current
circumstances,” Stano said.
Some European producers are asking Brussels for compensation after the sanctions are lifted,
but the EU hasn’t yet calculated the full affect of the Russian
food ban.
“We are willing to take whatever measures necessary to help
our producers,” Stano said, adding that the European
Commission is “still assessing the situation.”
On Thursday, the European Commission will meet with member states
in Brussels to discuss agriculture and trade.
In August the Kremlin restricted imports of meat, cheese, dairy,
fruit and vegetables from the US, EU, Canada, Australia, and
Norway in response to Western sanctions aimed at hurting the
Russian economy.
Whether the EU’s lobby will work remains to be seen, but so far,
Russia has reportedly reached deals with a number of trading
partners.
Ecuador has come out and said it will not be
persuaded, and will decide for itself who it does trade with.
Turkey, Russia’s 5th largest food supplier, also says it is
excited by the opportunity to do more business with Moscow in
lieu of the EU and US products.
Russia also held talks on creating a free trade zone with
Egypt, and countries in East Africa have said
they are ready to triple or quadruple trade with Russia.
“African suppliers have declared their readiness to supply
Russia with up to 100,000 tons of fruit and vegetables per week,
products that before were re-exported to Russia via the European
Union,” Elena Nagornaya, president of the Russia-Africa
trade alliance, told ITAR-TASS.
African countries are ready to directly export pineapples,
bananas, citrus fruits, apples, nuts, avocados, strawberries, as
well as ginger to Russia. Negotiations are underway with major
Russian grocery chains.
Article source: http://rt.com/business/180044-eu-denies-pressure-russia-food/
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