Russia’s consumer rights agency on Friday banned all imports of Ukrainian confectionery, signaling that the country has no plans to stop using trade as a weapon against countries that align themselves against Moscow.
The watchdog said in an online statement it had implemented a blanket ban after finding discrepancies in the labeling of products made by two major Ukrainian candy firms, Konti and AVK.
The move adds candy to a long list of Ukrainian goods banned by Russia, which includes all dairy products, all juices, and certain types of beer. The measures have been perceived by many as a thinly-veiled response to Ukraine's attempts to strengthen its ties with the EU at the expense of its links with Moscow. Other former Soviet republics like Moldova and Georgia have come in for the same treatment in recent years.
Last month, Russia banned food imports worth an annual $9 billion from countries that have sanctioned Moscow over its role in Ukraine, including the U.S. and the EU. The West accuses Russia of assisting separatists in fighting in eastern Ukraine. The latest decision is likely to hit the Ukrainian sweet industry hard at a time when the country’s economy is in free fall. Konti and AVK are two of the country's biggest confectioners and Russia is their biggest market.
Rotterdam, 05/09/2014-INC News
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