Russia has been deprived of the right to duty-free supply of grain in Turkey.
Photo: RIA Novosti / Aleksey Malgavko
Turkey has deprived Russia of the right to duty-free supply of wheat, corn and sunflower’s oilseed meal from March 15. According to experts, this will have a negative impact on Russian exports, as Turkey is the second buyer of Russian grain after Egypt.
According to the new conditions, Russia will be forced to pay import duty equal to 130 percent, supplying wheat. “With such, in fact, prohibitive duty, there may be no supplies,” the Interfax news agency quoted the words of CEO of the Institute for the Agrarian Market Conjuncture, Dmitry Rylko.
Experts connect the reasons for such a decision of the Turkish side with the ban on import of Turkish tomatoes and other vegetables to Russia, which is currently valid. “The harvest season is approaching, and this is a purely demonstrative action in retaliation for tomatoes,” Vice President of the Russian Grain Union, Aleksandr Korbut, said.
Meanwhile, other experts link the move, as well as the decision of the “opposition” to ignore the Astana peace talks, with Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Moscow, during wihch the Turkish President failed to achieve any significant political and economic goals in the relations with Russia.
As it was noted, the duty’s introduction can do more harm to Turkey than to Russia, as the former is interested in the wheat’s supply.
