Russia proposes bill to ban agricultural trade with US

Russian Minister of Agriculture Alexander Tkachev has shown support for a new bill to ban all Russia-US trade in agricultural products.

Tkachev said at a press conference in Moscow that Russian imports of agricultural products, which  total $300m annually and comprise 1%-2% of Russia’s total agriculture imports, can be replaced by the domestic market.

Data released by the Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS) showed that the country still imports non-food animal products from the US, including 1,350t of cattle semen for $5.2bn in 2017, accounting for 52% of imports.

It also imported a portion of live breeding cattle from the US, though the majority came from Canada and the EU.

The sanctions being considered come as a response to the US Government imposing its own restrictions against 24 Russian high-profile company heads and government officials. The bill stated that sanctions could be placed on other nations that joined the US in its sanctions, but this would reportedly have a serious impact on Russia’s agricultural economy as the nation relies on its live cattle imports from Europe. Last year, Russia imported 58,300 breeding cows, worth $135m, of which more than two-thirds (69%) came from the Netherlands and Germany.

Russian Member of Parliament Mikhali Emelyanov said that under the proposed bill the government could permit Russian and non-Russian companies to release products under US brand names without giving the trademark holders permission to appeal to the courts.

A spokesperson in the Russian meat sector, who wished to remain anonymous, told Global Meat News that it was unlikely that meat producers would release products under US brand names, although some companies could theoretically market feed additives under world-renowned brands. He added that it was doubtful that any ‘respectable’ Russian company would decide to do such a thing.

The bill is expected to be reviewed by the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of Parliament, on 15 May.