Latvia demands to ban the export of Russian grain

It is proposed to replace the grain of the aggressor country on the European market with agricultural products from Ukraine.

Latvia has recently banned the import of grain from the Russian Federation at the legislative level. Now the country is demanding the implementation of a similar embargo at the EU level, “Ukrinform” writes.

“We are still asking for European sanctions to be extended to grain and food products from the Russian Federation. Latvia has adopted national legislation that protects us from Russian imports into the Republic of Latvia. Currently, this does not affect transit to third countries, including to other EU countries,” — Minister of Agriculture of Latvia Armands Krause.

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy needs clarification, as a lot has changed since its last review in 2021. At present, Europe has war on its doorstep. This changes a lot both in the geopolitical situation and in the market. Ukraine, for example, cannot deliver grain to Africa, where there are countries that urgently need it, the official emphasized.

“Everything imported from Russia can be imported from Ukraine. And in this way, we will support Ukraine, and not help Russia feed its war machine,” Krause stressed.

The Latvian minister emphasized that his country fully supports Ukraine. From the point of view of the European Union, what is happening at the border is not clear. The official called to make sure that the EU has free movement of goods between countries.

Trade representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka spoke favorably about the Latvian embargo. The official expressed hope that other EU countries will join the ban on Russian grain.

Taras Kachka reminded that the EU bought 1.7 million tons of wheat from the aggressor countries in 2023, while Polish farmers continue to dump Ukrainian grain.

According to the Trade Representative of Ukraine, about 1.7 million tons of the EU’s total import of agricultural products out of 2.5 billion tons are Russian goods.

“In Europe, there is no ban on the import of agricultural products from Russia, neither on grain, nor on fish, nor on vegetables. These goods, perhaps in small quantities, go from Russia to Poland: in 2023, 11,000 tons of wheat arrived, but the very fact that this is a legal import,” noted Taras Kachka.

Agrarians from Lithuania joined Ukraine the day before. According to farmers, a much bigger problem for the agricultural market is Russian grain entering the country.