Imogen Calderwood
SPAIN is facing losses of more than €580 million following the new bans on exports to Russia.
Opposition groups, farmers’ unions and the Russian embassy produced the estimated figure, which makes up 1.8% of Spanish exports.
But the Spanish government disagrees, claiming the real figure is closer to €337 million.
Russia has retaliated to European sanctions imposed this month by announcing a ban on imports of food from the EU, US, Canada, Australia and Norway.
The ban includes meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products and small European farms are bearing the brunt.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy – following a meeting with King Felipe – said the new sanctions ‘will not help us’.
But he added that the ban would be ‘a stimulus, an incentive, for Spanish producers to keep working and contributing to Spain’s economic recovery’.
Spanish agriculture minister Isabel Garcia Tejerina has met with the European Commission in Brussels, prompted by Putin’s sanctions.
“The ministry will perform specific monitoring of each of the sectors to see how they evolve their markets and to ask, in the event of disruption, compensation for these measures from the European Union,” said Tejerina.
Miguel Padilla, head of Murcia-based agriculture and livestock association COAG, said: “Exporters have told us that some trucks in the EU are turning around right now because their orders have been cancelled.”
COAG, a major producer of fruit and vegetables in southern Spain annually exports more than 33 million directly to Russia, a key buyer of peaches, lettuces and cauliflowers.
It is predicted that Putin’s sanctions could cause losses of up to €12 billion across the EU.
Russia will still buy E.U products as they need them, they will just ship to parts of Russia and re-lable (i.e on the radio today Herrings in supermarkets labelled from areas that are land bound), Russia will buy and export and desperate E.U countries will supply no matter what!!!!
Good, Very good news. Unfotunately with Spain being so un democratic towards many (losing supports, quicker than they can gain them), news like this brings a smile. They deserve a good slap. With Russian delivering it makes it even funnier.
Danger is not food exports (the EU has already said it will compensate farmers hit by these sanctions), but indirect exports. Semi-finished items sent to Germany or Poland before final destination Russia, will be hit by this.
Fab can I just ask where you are from?
Spain the parasite of the EU addicted to compensation and free money .Spain has never contributed a single Euro in real terms since she joined 3o yrs ago..A cash addict who never pays it’s way..Absolute disgrace
i think its about time the usa and there paranoia buddies need to get a grip , they have been wrong so many times lately.
Mark, I think it’s about time you and Spain get a grip. I am really happy about those sanctions, as they will help affected countries to realise that Russia is highly unreliable partner and will force export to different countries. In the end those sanctions will come back at Russia – losing credibility and paying more for same products which will mean that economy will go down. So essentially Putin is hurting his own people.