Belarus introduces embargo on the supply of food products

2021-12-08 10:29

Belarus is introducing its sanctions from January 1, 2022, reports PAP based on reports by Belarusian News Agency BelTa. The Belarusian embargo is a response to sanctions introduced by European Union countries in reaction to the policy of the Belarusian government.

The message reads that the Belarusian counter-sanctions will cover a range of food products, including beef and pork, poultry, milk and milk products, sweets, nuts, vegetables and fruit. In addition to EU countries, the embargo will also cover supplies from the USA, Canada, Norway, Iceland, North Macedonia, the UK, Montenegro and Switzerland. This is a repeat of the Russian decision from 2014. At least for now, the embargo does not cover goods from Ukraine.

However, the Belarusian communiqué also talks about excluding certain products from the embargo, including, it says, items of "critical imports". It is known that Belarus will be forced to look for vegetables and fruit in countries such as Turkey, Iran, Central Asian countries, possibly Serbia or Moldova. Most of these locations mean longer distances and higher import prices. At present, the supply situation in Belarus within the fruit and vegetable sector is difficult and many commodities in this group already have above-average prices, so the main "beneficiaries" of the Belarusian government's decision will be local residents.

For Poland and the Polish fruit and vegetable sector, the Belarusian embargo means heavy losses. Our annual exports to this country are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. These exports will suffer even if the flow of goods is diverted via intermediate countries, and even if the Belarusian authorities, forced by the difficult domestic situation, turn a blind eye.

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