Failure Of The ‘Counter-Sanctions’ Of The Belarusian Authorities

• 8.01.2024, 10:11

Report from a store.

Two years ago the embargo on some Western food products was imposed. Famous confectionery brands, milk, meat, vegetables and fruits were banned. Then the embargo was eased by a recent decree. But later the government decided: these measures are with us for at least another year – until the end of 2024. Let us recall how it all began: the Resolution of the Council of Ministers #700 On the Application of Special Measures in Respect of Certain Types of Goods came into force in December 2021. This is the very list of food from "unfriendly" countries that are banned from importing to Belarus. The resolution had 18 enlarged positions – the codes many known in the country brands.

We celebrated this New Year with Spanish persimmons and clementines, and no embargoes prevented this, writes onliner.by.

The most popular position is apples. Under the new decree, the government made more concessions for them: previously, "unfriendly" imports were allowed only in July, now imports were allowed from April to July, when Belarusian apples may already run out.

Now prices start mainly from 2.5 rubles for Belarusian apples and reach up to 5 for Moldovan ones.

Many positions, such as lemons, oranges, tangerines, kiwis and pomegranates, Europe (most often Spain) and Turkey close at approximately similar prices.

Elite lemons from Uzbekistan are several times more expensive than ordinary ones. Around 30 rubles cost peaches and nectarines, which break the idea of the seasons and come now from South Africa.

The main concern of the vegetable shelf is not counter-sanctions, but prices for the most ordinary cucumbers and tomatoes. "Golden" cucumbers for 17 rubles come from Russia, Belarusian smooth ones cost about 7.5 rubles.

There is more imported variety in tomatoes, but this does not really save prices — alas, you need to wait for the summer. While the Turkish sell for 10—11 rubles, the Russian sell for 14, the Azerbaijani sell for 16. You don't want to convert the price of cherry from Morocco into kilograms: it comes to 30 rubles.

Frozen vegetables again have a little bit of Polish products, but tomatoes are no longer there.

Jarred food survived the embargo with minimal losses. There are jams from France, Italy and Poland, sun-dried tomatoes from Italy and Turkey, olives from Spain and Greece.

A little exotic like Iranian carrot jam was added, as well as passion fruit in the form of puree from Thailand.