Russia has once again approved the importation of Ecuadorian bananas

Head of the Russian Phytosanitary Inspection Agency (Roselkhoznadzor), Sergey Dankwertannounced that the Kremlin would once again allow access to Ecuadorian banana exports. Five companies were suspended Officially For phytosanitary reasons that appeared to be retaliation for the Ecuadorian government’s decision to deliver old Russian military equipment from its armed forces to Washington in exchange for more modern ones. The Russian official has said that the entry of this Ecuadorian flagship product will be under a government guarantee from the Ecuadorian authorities.

The announcement comes hours after the Ecuadorian government signaled it A delegation A delegation of representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Trade, Agriculture and Agro-Quality will travel to Russia on Sunday. Resolve the deadlock That was sparked after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said he would trade with the United States. Russian “scrap”

For new military equipment.

“Today we officially announce that on Monday at four o’clock Moscow time we will have a video conference with the control service of Ecuador. AndWe are saying today that we are giving these five Ecuadorian companies the right to supply Ecuadorian services under guarantee. And we will continue to discuss“said Dankvert on Russia-24 channel.

Russian authorities say the companies were suspended because these exporters repeatedly violated phytosanitary requirements and bananas were infected with the humpback fly, which is considered a threat to Russia and member states of the Eurasian Customs Union.

Despite arguments from Vladimir Putin’s regime, the measures are seen as retaliation for the Noboa government’s decision and its comments on Russian equipment, particularly after a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Maria Zakharova The Kremlin expressed displeasure: “If it were scrap metal, as they call it in Ecuador, it would be difficult for Washington to propose its exchange for modern equipment, certainly for a fairly high sum. We hope Quito understands it that way,” the Russian official said. These statements come four days after what Noboa said.

Zazarova also suggested that: “Such a hasty decision was taken by the Ecuadorian side under severe pressure from interested persons from abroad.

According to Russian authorities, Ecuador cannot deliver military equipment to the United States without Moscow’s consent.

At that time, the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (FedExport) “The products Ecuadorian exportables offer comply with the quality sanitary and phytosanitary standards demanded by our destination markets.”“

Ecuador’s ambassador to Russia, Juan Fernando Holguín Flores, said in public statements that “Suspension to suspension” is positive for Ecuador: “This decision shows the importance of dialogue between two countries that have traditionally had very close and very positive relations.” Holguin praised the “openness and understanding” around the topic.

Ecuador is the largest exporter of bananas in the world. It exported 6.5 million tonnes in 2023 alone. Russia, second only to the European Union, is the second most important buyer of Ecuadorian bananas, with a share of about 23%.

On Saturday, February 3, five days after the Ecuadorian president’s statements, Russia also ordered a total ban on the import of Ecuadorian carnations. Once again, Russia’s Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service said it had detected cases of non-compliance with its requirements. Eurasian Economic Union.

According to the Russian agency, moths have been found in flowers in Ecuador.

In addition to advertising, The Russian Federal Service has also asked the Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania to stop the entry of Ecuadorian carnations. Beginning on February 9, a few days before Valentine’s Day, flower exports from Ecuador increased significantly. Russia has warned those countries that, if they do not restrict the entry of carnations, the Kremlin will have to apply restrictive measures against other types of flowers entering those territories. No new announcement regarding this suspension has been made yet.