Expert: Moscow bans re-export of meat from Belarus

Moscow political analyst Kirill Koktysh believes that by limiting the supply of Belarusian agricultural products Russia is trying to rein in the western neighbor who decided to capitalize on sanctions.

Koktysh: "It's obvious. Moscow openly declares that Russia is not happy with re-exports from Belarus. It is dissatisfied with the fact that Belarus is becoming a transit point for re-export of the countries on which the Kremlin had imposed sanctions."

On 26 November, Belarusian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka visited Moscow. He held talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. They discussed the supply of Belarusian agricultural products. Russia recently imposed a temporary ban on the products of about 20 Belarusian milk- and meat-packing plants, as well as on transit through Belarus to Kazakhstan of goods from EU countries that fall under Russian sanctions.

On Thursday, 27 November, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka spoke rather harshly about the Russian restrictions on the supply of meat from Belarus. "Today, I am not only surprised but also burdened with the behavior of the Russian authorities... If in the near future trade between the two countries is not normalized, we will be forced to react. What kind of behavior is that?!" said Lukashenka. More of what he said see here.

However, Kirill Koktysh believes that a full-fledged trade war between the members of the Customs Union will not take place.

Koktysh: "I think the point is to make everything clear, not to argue or have repressions, but to show the position of Moscow. It is not happy and it advises to work according to the rules which were approved earlier. We should not expect a full-fledged confrontation."

The ban on the export of a number of foods, including meat and products from the European Union, the USA, Canada, Norway and Australia, Russia was introduced in early August 2014. This was supposed to be a response to Western economic sanctions against the Kremlin's policy towards Ukraine. As a result, already in the fall the export of certain foodstuffs from Belarus to Russia increased many times. This gave Kremlin the grounds to accuse Minsk of food re-export from the European Union.

Photos - ria.ru