This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/08/australian-leaders-criticise-russian-sanctions-on-food-imports

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Australian leaders criticise Russian sanctions on food imports Australian leaders criticise Russian sanctions on food imports
(about 3 hours later)
Coalition and Labor politicians have criticised Russia’s move to impose sanctions on Australia and other western countries in retaliation against US and EU sanctions against some its banks and individuals.Coalition and Labor politicians have criticised Russia’s move to impose sanctions on Australia and other western countries in retaliation against US and EU sanctions against some its banks and individuals.
The Russian sanctions cover foodstuffs from the US, 28 EU countries, Canada, Norway and Australia.The Russian sanctions cover foodstuffs from the US, 28 EU countries, Canada, Norway and Australia.
Australian merchandise and service exports to its 31st largest trading partner were worth $901m in 2013, primarily from meat, butter and live animals, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Australian merchandise and service exports to its 31st largest trading partner were worth $901m in 2013, primarily from meat, butter and live animals, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Russian food and drink market was worth €12.2bn to Europe in 2013. It is the EU’s second largest buyer.The Russian food and drink market was worth €12.2bn to Europe in 2013. It is the EU’s second largest buyer.
In the wake of the shooting down of flight MH17 the US and EU stepped up punitive measures against Russia, cutting off some key banks from European capital markets. A number of billionaire Russians, thought to be close to Putin and linked to the annexing of Crimea, were also earlier sanctioned.In the wake of the shooting down of flight MH17 the US and EU stepped up punitive measures against Russia, cutting off some key banks from European capital markets. A number of billionaire Russians, thought to be close to Putin and linked to the annexing of Crimea, were also earlier sanctioned.
In response, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, told his officials on Wednesday to come up with a list of agricultural produce and materials which the country imported from the western nations named, and ban them.In response, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, told his officials on Wednesday to come up with a list of agricultural produce and materials which the country imported from the western nations named, and ban them.
The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said on Thursday night said it was “disappointing” that Russia had ignored calls to stop the flow of weapons to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said on Thursday night said it was “disappointing” that Russia had ignored calls to stop the flow of weapons to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the sanctions made him “sick in the guts.”
“Do you want to know what I think? Who are they to put sanctions on us?” Shorten told a business summit in Melbourne.
“They don’t have the ... moral authority to do that in the light of what’s happened. I think that for the Russians to be talking about sanctions against us makes me sick in the guts.”
The deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, said on Friday morning it was important for the world to tell Russia its support of the rebels was unacceptable, even though Australia had not imposed a second round of sanctions against Russia.The deputy opposition leader, Tanya Plibersek, said on Friday morning it was important for the world to tell Russia its support of the rebels was unacceptable, even though Australia had not imposed a second round of sanctions against Russia.
“It’s a punishing of our primary production sector and farmers at a time when it seems the Russians have backed separatists and armed them, and those armed separatists have shot down a plane with Australians on it,” she said. “It’s extraordinary behaviour.”“It’s a punishing of our primary production sector and farmers at a time when it seems the Russians have backed separatists and armed them, and those armed separatists have shot down a plane with Australians on it,” she said. “It’s extraordinary behaviour.”
But Putin’s decision did not mean he should be banned from the G20 leaders meeting in November, she said, as has been called for by some state premiers. “Sometimes the best way to do that is to have someone in the room to say it to their face,” she said.But Putin’s decision did not mean he should be banned from the G20 leaders meeting in November, she said, as has been called for by some state premiers. “Sometimes the best way to do that is to have someone in the room to say it to their face,” she said.
The communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said it was important the world stand up to Russia. “Putin is reacting against the firm response from the rest of the world and his country, his citizens will lose out of this,” he told Nine.The communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said it was important the world stand up to Russia. “Putin is reacting against the firm response from the rest of the world and his country, his citizens will lose out of this,” he told Nine.
Russia’s prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, was not concerned. “I am sure that our market will be filled with fresh quality Russian products, which anyway many Russians prefer to the imported ones,” he said on Wednesday.Russia’s prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, was not concerned. “I am sure that our market will be filled with fresh quality Russian products, which anyway many Russians prefer to the imported ones,” he said on Wednesday.
He said the ban would last for a year and that Russian leaders were still considering banning western airlines from the country’s airspace.He said the ban would last for a year and that Russian leaders were still considering banning western airlines from the country’s airspace.
Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said the government was looking at alternative markets in Asia to ease the blow.
“I know this is something that’s going to cause hardship in the country for rural producers,” Joyce told ABC radio. “But we will try and work around it.”
Noel Campbell, president of the Australian Dairy Farmers and chairman of the Australian Dairy Industry Council, told Guardian Australia the industry is less concerned with the loss of the Russian exports than they are by the effect of European product flooding the rest of the world market.
“We currently send about 22,000 tonnes of product into Russia, which is mainly butter, and last year it was worth $110-112m,” said Campbell.
“Our bigger concern is how it might affect globally, because obviously Europe’s been impacted by the sanctions as well - they put about 500,000 tonnes of dairy products into Russia. Our concern is more about the effect of all that product coming on to the world market, because it’s got to be placed somewhere.”
Russia’s agriculture minister, Nikolai Fyodorov, said more Brazilian meat and New Zealand cheese would be imported to replace the sanctioned produce.
The potential boon to New Zealand could rebalance the market distribution.
“We’re in competition with [New Zealand] on the export market,” said Campbell.
“We’ve had a benefit from New Zealand in that they’ve concentrated on China, and we’ve had concentration on the Russian market. That might turn itself around.”
Campbell indicated the Australian industry might now make a bigger play for China.
“[New Zealand] have got a tariff advantage over us, which certainly will make it difficult for us but we’ve got to look at other markets.”