MOSCOW, August 7 (RIA Novosti) — Russia is prepared to argue its case of limiting food imports from a number of western countries and stand its ground in the World Trade Organization, Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedorov said Thursday.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius told RIA Novosti on Thursday the European Union would most likely examine the possibility of turning to the WTO in regard to Russia’s import embargoes, adding there would be consequences or Russia.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin singed an order on economic measures to protect the country’s security. The decree banned for a year imports of agricultural and food products from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia. The list includes meat, poultry and milk products as well as fruits and vegetables from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway. The embargo does not include infant foods and goods.
The Russian restrictions came as a response to several rounds of Western sanctions against Russian officials, business people and companies.