The Diet of Latvia did not prohibit the transit of Russian agricultural products

On Thursday, the Diet of Latvia adopted a bill prohibiting the import of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus for the domestic market. Deputies did not support the amendment prohibiting the transit of such goods as well, reports Delfi.

Import restrictions apply to agricultural and fodder products that are imported directly from Russia and Belarus, and to products from these countries that are imported from other countries.

The amendments provide that the ban will be in effect until July 1, 2025, and in the future, if necessary, it can be extended. The explanatory note states that the restrictions are aimed at “preventing the state budgets of the aggressor countries and the enterprises of these countries from receiving additional income from the export of their products, thus contributing to the possibility of the continuation of the war in Ukraine,” notes Sever.Realii.

Latvia is the second largest importer of Russian agricultural products,

At the same time, the head of the legal department of the Diet, Dina Meister, urged not to support the proposal of the National Union party on the transit of Russian agricultural products, as it contradicts Latvia’s international obligations and the country’s constitution, reports Delfi. It is noted that such decisions can only be made at the EU level.

• In 2023, Latvia imported more than 423 thousand tons of grain products from Russia for the domestic market, which is 59.9 percent more than in 2022. The value of cereals imported from Russia to Latvia in 2023 reached 89 million euros, which is 11.7 percent more than in 2022.
• At the same time, the country is one of the largest importers of Russian food for transit. According to the Latvian public media portal, 1.94 million tons of grain for transit were imported into the country in 11 months of last year. This year, the volume may reach 4 million tons, the Ministry of Agriculture of the country reports to Interfax.