CHISINAU, November 20 (Sputnik) – Moscow has no reason to worry about re-export of embargoed European goods to Russia through the territory of Moldova and does not need to introduce restrictive measures, Moldovan Economics Minister Adrian Candu said Thursday.
“There are no grounds to fear that these goods will be delivered to Russia via Moldova. There are no economic or legal grounds for imposing such restrictive measures on us,” the minister told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Russia restricted imports of meat and fruits from Moldova earlier this year, citing the need to prevent the illegal delivery of European goods to Russia as a response to European sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine.
On September 1, Russia also canceled nullified duties for imports of certain Moldovan food. The law was drafted in order to protect the Russian market from an uncontrolled flow of European duty-free goods following Moldova’s signing of a free-trade agreement with the EU on June 27.
Earlier this week, Moldovan Minister of Agriculture and Food Policy Vasily Bumakov told RIA Novosti that the country may lose up to $200 million due to the imposed restrictions.
Russian agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Tuesday that it was ready to negotiate with Moldova on lifting the restrictions, but first Chisinau needs to take measures to prevent smuggling of EU goods into Russia.
