Washington, August 13 (RIA Novosti) - The opportunity, created for BRICS group of emerging economies’ member Brazil to increase its food exports to Russia, following the ban imposed by Moscow on the United States and European Union food products, could put Brazil at odds with Washington, the head of the DC-based Brazil Institute told RIA Novosti.
“Can you supply to Russia what Russia won’t get anymore...from Europe and the United States? By doing that, do you risk, yourself, getting into a political imbroglio with two countries with whom you have very traditional and long-lasting relations?” questioned Paulo Sotero, who does not want to see the economic gains of the BRICS jeopardized by geopolitical tensions between partner-states and the West.
Despite this, Brazilian media reports indicate a strong willingness by Brazilian companies to fill the gap left by the food embargo, with Brazil’s Association of Meat Exporters saying on Tuesday that beef exports to Russia were $692 million in July, a 19-percent increase from 2013.
“This is something that the farmers, exporters, and Brazilian authorities are considering, this new scenario, because it is not a typical scenario,” explained Sotero, questioned how Brazilian companies will maneuver around the sanctions while operating subsidiaries in the United States and Europe.
“I believe that the companies, not wanting to lose business, are probably very busy devising those strategies. At the same time, I see there is an implication here that is potentially a political implication, a geopolitical implication.”
On August 7, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced a ban on a number of foodstuffs, including pork, beef, poultry, dairy, and fruits and vegetables, coming from the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway.
