Turkey-Russia agricultural trade developments
Turkey and Russia held their Executive Committee on Agriculture meeting held on 13-14 September in Antalya.
Russia reportedly pushed for exporting meat (including poultry) to Turkey as a quid pro quo for lifting the ban on Turkish tomato exports to Russia. In fact, the Russian media reported that Russia would import about 100,000-300,000 tons of Turkish tomatoes in the October 2017 – May 2018 period, in compliance with phytosanitary rules. Turkey already sent a veterinary inspection team to Russian meat establishments back in April and July 2017. While Turkish authorities deny any link between these two issues, they are admitting the possibility of importing meat from Russia.
Against this background, the tomatoes ban issue was also on the agenda of the meeting presidents Erdoğan and Putin had in Ankara on 28 September 2017. Following the meeting, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi was quoted saying that Russia will lift the ban soon, without however providing any further details on the terms of the agreement.