Russian president Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that a current ban on dairy products, meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit from the U.S., European Union, Australia, Canada, and Norway will remain in effect until June 24, 2016. The action was likely in response to EU’s decision Monday to extend its sanctions against Russia for six months.
Putin initially banned the products in August 2014 after the countries announced sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
“We were extremely troubled by news today that Russia intends to extend its unjustified ban on U.S. meat and other agricultural products,” North American Meat Institute president and chief executive officer Barry Carpenter said after learning of the extension. ”Continuing this ban ignores the free trade obligations that came with Russia’s 2012 decision to join the World Trade Organization.”
Carpenter said the U.S. meat and poultry industry supports free trade and strives to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to the safe trade of these products.
“Establishing and maintaining open and fair trading systems and standards are the best means of ensuring the delivery of the best and safest food products to consumer around the world,” he said.
