EEU countries need food product balances - Skrynnik
MOSCOW. April 20 (Interfax) - Trade in agricultural products among the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries must develop on the basis of joint forecast supply and demand balances, said International Independent Agrarian Policy Institute head Yelena Skrynnik, who was Russia's agriculture minister from 2009 until 2012.
"Only given these balances can we rule out the re-export of agricultural production to the Russian market from countries subject to special economic measures, to provide a transparent benchmark for business," Skrynnik told Interfax.
"When we have a clear idea of how much food our EEU neighbors produce and consume, for instance, we can reduce to zero the potential problem with the importation of sanctioned fruits and vegetables and dairy, meat and fish products," she said.
Such a structuring of trade and economic relations in the agricultural area was carried out by the Customs Union countries in 2009-2012, when Skrynnik headed the Agricultural Ministry, she said.
Trade among EEU countries totaled $2.5 billion in January 2016, 13.4% less than in January 2015. The share of food products and other agricultural output rose to 16.1% from 15% in January 2015. Belarus accounted for 56.8% of total trade in the segment and Russia for 33.9%.