Turkey loses $209 mln 2016 due to food embargo

Turkey lost $209 mln in the Q1 of 2016 due to the Russian food embargo on imports of certain food items imports to the country, Russia’s Economic Development Ministry said in its report for January – June 2016, TASS reports.

“Import of goods prohibited from January 1, 2016, to enter the Russian Federation from Turkey, in the Q1 of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 decreased by $209.1 mln,” the document said.

The Russian government banned supplies of a number of food products from Turkey to Russia from January 1, 2016. Thus, import of fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches and nectarines, plums, wild strawberries, and strawberries) and vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, yellow onions). The restrictive measures were adopted after the Turkish air forces shut down the Russian Su-24 bomber over the territory of Syria.

As TASS reported earlier, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Services of Russia and Turkey are going to hold consultations on removing restrictions in trade of Turkish agricultural products.

However, earlier Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev told journalists that Russia is in no hurry to open its market for Turkey because it is necessary to support domestic producers.