MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - Norway takes seriously Russia’s ban on food imports from several Western countries, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said.
“We are taking the news of the Russian trade restrictions seriously, but it is too early to say what the consequences will be for Norwegian companies. We are now examining the measures together with the EU and other affected parties, and we will jointly consider how we can best deal with the situation,” Brende said.
On Thursday, Russia imposed a year ban on the imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, seafood, milk, dairy products, as well as fruits and vegetables from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Norway.
Brende said that Russia’s imports ban is “completely unreasonable” and “politically motivated.”
Norway is expected to be hit hard by Russia’s import restrictions, and particularly in the fishery industry. Russia has been Norway's biggest export market for fishery products in recent years, consuming about 76 percent of Norwegian fish exports. In the meantime, Norweigian supplies account for some 10 percent of Russia’s total fish consumption. Last year, Norway exported over $1 billion worth of fish products to Russia.
Russia’s imports restriction counters the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia. The European Union, the United States and some other countries have compiled sanctions lists against Russian companies, banks, politicians, as well as the financial, energy and defense sectors of the Russian economy. The move has been linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
