Russia bans import of strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, other products from Turkey

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russia has banned import of tangerines, tomatoes, and a number of other products from Turkey from January 1, according to the government decree on implementation of presidential decree on special economic measures against Turkey, press service of the cabinet of ministers reported on Tuesday.

Thus, starting from January 1 Turkey will be banned from importing fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches and nectarines, plums, wild strawberries and strawberries) and vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, yellow onions) to Russia.

Also, the ban concerns supplies of frozen turkey and chicken, as well as fresh Turkish pinks and salt.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on November 28 on measures to ensure national security and protect Russian citizens from criminal and other unlawful actions and on the special economic measures against the Turkish Republic. The document particularly bans or restricts imports of separate kinds of commodities outlined by the government from Turkey to Russia.

According to the data provided by Russia’s Agriculture Ministry, in 2014 Turkish imports of food and agricultural products to Russia totaled $1.7 bln. Turkish food accounted for 4% of Russia’s total food imports, with the main items being fruits, vegetables and nuts. According to the Ministry, in 10 months of 2015 import of agricultural products and food from Turkey reached $1.035 in value terms, which is a 21.2% decrease compared with the same period in 2014.

Charter operations ban

Russia bans charter operations between Russia and Turkey from December 1, 2015 and introduces additional aviation safety measures on regular flights, accoridng to the cabinet ruling obtained by TASS on Tuesday.

"To ban charter air transportations between Russia and the Turkish republic, expect for special flights for the return of the tourists remaining in the Turkish republic as well as to take additional measures aimed at ensuring transport (aviation) safety when conducting regular flights with the Turkish republic," - the cabinet said in the ruling.

Turkish citizens employment ban

Turkish citizens without a labor contract or a civil contract signed before December 31, 2015, won’t be allowed to work on the territory of Russia from January 1, 2016, the cabinet press service reported citing a relevant ruling.

The cabinet obliged the Labor Ministry, Economic Development Ministry and the Federal Migration Service to submit a draft law ensuring the implementation of the ban by December 10, 2015.

The cabinet also instructed the Federal Migration Service and the Federal Service for Labor and Employment to control how the ban is observed.

In late November, Minister of Construction and Housing Mikhail Men said that the outflow of Turkish construction workers from Russia will not affect the terms of commissioning and cost of construction projects.

Turkish companies facing ban on working in Russia 

Russia’s government has tasked the Ministry of Economic Development together with engaged federal executive authorities to present the draft decision on the list of organizations under the Turkish jurisdiction, which will face a ban or restrictions on some of their operations within Russia, by December 10 of the current year, according to the government decree on implementation of presidential decree on special economic measures against Turkey, press service of the cabinet of ministers reported.

The government has also tasked the Ministry with outlining the list of contracts concluded with Turkish organizations, which will not face special economic measures.

Russian government suspends work of intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation

Russian Government made a decision to suspend operations of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, the government said in the decree implementing special economic measures against Turkey.

"To suspend the activity of mixed intergovernmental Russian-Turkish commission on trade and economic cooperation," the document said.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directed to send a relevant notice to the Turkish side in due course.

The Government asked the Ministry of Economic Development and the Foreign Ministry to monitor performance of the decree in cooperation with interested federal executive authorities. The ministries are also tasked to submit proposals in case of necessity on change of the term or the nature of special economic and other measures stipulated in the president’s decree subject to Turkey’s acts.

Russia’s government has tasked the Minister of Economic Development together with federal executive authorities to suspend talks with Turkey regarding the draft agreement on service trade and investments, according to the government decree.

The Ministry has also been tasked with suspending talks on the project of mid-term program of trade and economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation between governments of the Russian Federation and the Turkish Republic for 2016-2019 as well as on formation of the Russian-Turkish join fund on financing investment projects in Russia and Turkey.

Russia will suspend the agreement on the visa-free regime with Turkey from January 1, 2016, the government’s press service said.

The visa-free agreement came into force on May 12, 2010.