This month, Turkey suspended the transit of goods to Russia that are subject to sanctions imposed by Western countries. This came a year after the start of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine and increased pressure from the United States and Europe on Ankara.
The Turkish government has handed Turkish companies a list of banned foreign goods and ordered that they not be delivered to Russia from March 1. “All goods on this list are blocked for import into Russia, regardless of the country from which they come,” said the head of the Association of Exporters of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals of Istanbul, Cetin Tekdelioglu. , in an interview with Reuters.
An EU official told Reuters that Ankara had given the European Commission verbal assurances that from March 1 goods would not be shipped to Russia if subject to sanctions and controls export from EU, USA or UK.
Turkey’s Commerce Ministry has so far refrained from any official comment.
Western countries have imposed a record number of sanctions against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. However, channels for re-exporting to Russia from neighboring Turkey and elsewhere remain open, prompting Washington last month to warn Turkey of the dangers of re-exporting microchips, chemicals and other products to Russia. that could be used by Moscow for military purposes.
Recall that Turkey is a member of NATO, but at the same time it is trying to balance, maintaining good relations with Kiev and Moscow in wartime conditions.
However, given serious warnings from the US, as well as the EU, the Turkish government is seeking to avoid friction with Washington and Brussels, Tekdelioglu said.
“There has been a list of restrictions on re-exports from free trade zones to Russia since March, and instructions have been given to stop re-exports,” Tekdelioglu said.
However, according to him, goods made in Turkey, even with components from other countries, can still be imported into Russia without restrictions.
According to Turkish companies, the new restrictions of the Turkish government force Russian importers to seek alternative suppliers in Kazakhstan and other countries.
Reuters reported last week that in recent weeks Russian companies have sent new requests to their Kazakh partners for certain goods banned by Western countries from re-export.
In December, data was published that in the first 7 months of the war, Russia received computers and other electronic components worth at least $2.6 billion. Products worth at least $777 million of that amount were produced by Western companies.
