During a telephone conversation between Russian Prime Minister Medvedev and his Turkish colleague Binali Yildrim, a further lifting of the boycott of Turkish fruit and vegetables has been discussed. According to reports from the Kremlin’s website, they spoke about “measures that promote trade and improve the access to each other’s markets for industrial and agrarian products.”
Russian news websites, however, reported that Russia has lifted the boycott of a number of Turkish fruit and vegetables. According to press agency TASS, there will be an end to the boycott of onions and scallions (fresh or sliced), cauliflower and broccoli (fresh and frozen), and a number of other products. The boycott of carnations should also be lifted. Prime Minister Medvedev would have to sign a decree to end the boycott.
Source: Kremlin
Today, the presidents of both countries will meet in Moscow. They will speak about, among other things, trade relations, but also about subjects such as energy and the Syrian situation.
Russia closed its borders to, among other things, fresh produce from Turkey when that country shot down a fighter aircraft in November 2015. Russia’s economic sanctions hit Turkey hard. Oranges, tangerines, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches and nectarines, plums, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli and yellow onions were boycotted. After this boycott in January 2016, a ban on the import of bell pepper, aubergine, pomegranate, lettuce and iceberg lettuce followed because of phytosanitary problems. In June 2016, President Erdoğan apologised. Since then, the countries have been working on mending their relationship. The boycott of a number of fresh produce products had already been lifted, just as sanctions for other sectors had already been lifted.
In October 2016, the boycott of tangerines, oranges, peaches and nectarines, plums and apricots was lifted. In December of that same year, the Russian phytosanitary service indicated they were researching whether it would be possible to lift the boycott on more products.