Russia's Food Embargo ‘Smart’ Response to Western Sanctions - US Economist
Russia's food embargo is a smart move on Moscow’s part that is set to show the United States and its allies that Russia is not going to give in to Western pressure, an American economist and co-director of a US-based research center told RIA Novosti Thursday. "It is smart of Moscow to respond in kind to the sanctions, rather than downgrading diplomatic relations, since any deterioration in diplomatic relations would make the conflict more difficult to resolve," Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research said. He stressed that the sanctions against Russia are almost certainly illegal under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and so Russia could pursue a case there as well. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Wednesday banning imports of agricultural and food products from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia. Moscow has banned beef, pork, poultry and dairy products, as well as fruit and vegetables from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway for one year.
RIA Novosti: Ukrainian Transit Not Crucial For Russian Oil Deliveries to Europe – Transneft
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