Kazakhstan and Russia on the Brink of Trade War Over Phytosanitary Measures
The reason behind Rosselkhoznadzor's request is the increasing number of quarantine violations found in products coming fr om Kazakhstan.
"The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) reports that due to the rising number of detections of quarantine objects in regulated products coming from Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation, and in order to maintain Russia's phytosanitary safety, protect the development of domestic greenhouses, seed breeding, and grain and fruit export volumes, Rosselkhoznadzor has requested the Committee for State Inspection in the Agro-Industrial Complex at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan to suspend the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for grain, processed grain products, tomatoes, peppers, and sunflower seeds for planting (originating from third countries) exported to Russia from September 23, 2024," reads a document from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
Evgeny Karabanov, a representative of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, stated that the situation could lead to a trade war.
"This could be a trade war. Our authorities have two options: either lift the ban on the import of Russian wheat, or impose restrictions on flour, dairy, meat products, and so on. However, we must consider that in response, there will be a ban on the transit of coal, oil, and petroleum products... In the second case, exiting the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) would be a logical step. And the end of the EAEU..." said Karabanov.
Kazakhstan is now faced with a choice: either lift the ban on Russian wheat imports or impose retaliatory measures on Russian products, such as banning dairy, meat, and other goods. However, this could provoke reciprocal actions from Russia, including a ban on the transit of coal and oil.
According to APK News, Kazakhstan's grain processors are already facing issues at the border, wh ere Russian border guards are citing Rosselkhoznadzor’s orders to block the transit of Kazakh products. Kazakhstan's businesses view these measures as the beginning of a "cold trade war."
