KIEV, January 2. /TASS/. The Ukrainian government has approved a list of Russian foodstuffs that will be banned for importation into Ukraine from January 10, according to the government’s resolution published on Saturday.
"To ban until August 5, 2016, the importation of goods originating from the Russian Federation into the Ukrainian customs territory as per the list given in the appendix," the resolution reads.
The resolution comes into force from January 10, 2016 and will lose its effect from August 5 this year or "after Russia lifts a ban on the importation of agricultural produce and food raw materials originating from Ukraine into the Russian customs territory."
- Russia bans imports of farm produce, raw foods from Ukraine
- Kiev issues list of Russian food products to be covered by imports ban from January 10
- Expert puts losses of Ukraine’s agrarian sector from Russian food ban at $800 mln
- Poroshenko says Ukraine will take ‘adequate decision’ in case of Russia’s food embargo
The Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry earlier prepared a list of Russian food products banned for importation into Ukraine from January 10.
The list includes 43 foodstuffs. Specifically, it bans the imports of bread and bakery products, cookies, chocolates, cattle meat, fish, roasted coffee, black tea, baby food, cigarettes with filter, beer, vodka, and some other commodities
Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko earlier signed a foreign trade law allowing the government to impose economic sanctions against Russia.
The Ukrainian parliament approved this law on December 24. Under this document, the Ukrainian government may take "additional measures" in the event of "discriminatory or unfriendly acts from the state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada as an aggressor."
Specifically, the Ukrainian government will have the right to "ban or restrict foreign trade operations" and also cancel tariff privileges.
The Ukrainian government passed this law in retaliation to the Russian law on suspending the free trade agreement with Ukraine. The law envisages suspending the preferential trade regime with Ukraine to prevent threats to Russia’s economic security after the free trade deal between Ukraine and the European Union came into effect from January 1, 2016.
Also on Saturday, Ukraine raised import duties on Russian goods.
‘From January 2, 2016, the import duty preferential rates established by the Ukrainian customs tariff will apply to all the goods originating from Russia while the preferential regime towards this country [of free trade] will be cancelled," the Ukrainian government’s press office said in a statement.
These measures will last for one year, the statement said.