Russia waits for free grain exports to Turkey to ease import curbs

KRASNOYARSK, Apr 21 (PRIME) -- Russia will not change its position on restrictions of imports from Turkey unless Ankara removes its grain imports limits, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters on Friday.

“The removal of grain limit restrictions is unconditional for us, we will do nothing if this does not happen. There is not a slightest chance that we will abolish anything without removal of the grain ban. But if they withdraw the grain thing, there is a set of actions we can agree on,” Dvorkovich said.

He said, Russia and Turkey will hold consultations on grain supplies in a week.

In March 2017, tensions between the two agricultural powers emerged, when Turkey imposed a 130% duty on imports of Russian wheat, corn and other products cancelling a country duty-free regime.

The market saw the step as an attempt to exert pressure as Russia is yet to unban imports of Turkish tomatoes and some fruit after an earlier conflict involving downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by Turkish air forces.

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