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Moldova to seek WTO help if Russia bans Moldovan imports

On July 18, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary control agency imposed a temporary ban on fresh fruit imports from Moldova

CHISINAU, July 23, 3:15 /ITAR-TASS/. Moldova will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in case Russia bans imports of its products, Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said on Tuesday.

“The government will take efforts to try to find solutions on reducing risks linked with Russia’s ban on Moldovan fruit and vegetables,” Leanca said after a meeting with Moldovan farmers. “A governmental commission has been set up to study legal aspects of the problem. If Russia resorts to tariff restrictions on our products, it is not ruled out that we will turn to the World Trade Organization.”

Apart from that, the Moldovan government had decided to allocate 20 million leu (1.4 million U.S. dollars) to buy fruit for schools, kindergartens and the army as a measure of support to farmers, the prime minister said, adding that the government was in talks with officials from a number of European Union countries on expanding fresh and canned fruit and vegetables exports from Moldova.

On July 18, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary control agency (Rosselkhoznadzor) imposed a temporary ban on fresh fruit imports from Moldova on grounds of violations of Russia’s quality and consumer rights protection legislation. Meanwhile, Russia’s ministry of economic development has drafted a government resolution on abolition of zero export taxes on a number of Moldovan imports, including wine, meat, vegetables, fruit and grain.

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