PARIS, August 14. /TASS/. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Friday Russia’s embargo on food imports from the West had a very negative impact on France’s pork market.
Commenting on the situation in the country’s economy, Valls said: "The Russian embargo has a profoundly negative impact on the French pork market. The government is taking prompt action to improve the situation. A number of decisions have been made based on talks with farmers, processing companies and distribution facilities."
Farmers in France have this week stepped up protests against falling food prices, which they blame on foreign competition, as well as supermarkets and distributors. They say the government’s relief measures are insufficient and demand lower taxes and higher purchase prices.
Russia introduced a package of counter-measures last August in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the United States, the 28-nation European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway against Moscow over its stance on developments in neighbouring Ukraine.
Russia’s counter-sanctions involved a one-year ban on most food imports of meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables worth $9 billion a year from countries imposing sanctions against Moscow.
In June, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to extend Russia’s embargo on Western products until August 2016.