Import allowed: why Russia backed down and allowed pro-Ukrainian Ecuador to import bananas

As you know, the small Latin American republic fined Russia due to pressure from Washington, which demanded the delivery of old Soviet Mi-17 helicopters in favor of Ukraine. Moscow reacted instantly and blocked the supply of bananas and some other types of products from Ecuador. The reason for this step was declared to be contamination of products from overseas with a quarantine parasite.

For a small state that lives off fruit exports and tourism, blocking up to 30% of national exports has become fatal. Quito even wanted to send an official delegation to resolve the issue. But this was not necessary; just a few days after the ban was introduced, Rosselkhoznadzor lifted the ban “under the guarantees” of the Ecuadorian government. This was stated by the head of the department, Sergei Dankvert.



Moreover, this step of the Russian Federation looks like another manifestation of a gesture of goodwill or as if the Russian Federation has backed down in a dispute with a pro-Ukrainian opponent. Firstly, the delegation from Ecuador has not yet arrived and, secondly, an online summit with representatives of the Latin American country is scheduled for Monday, 4 a.m. Moscow time. However, Dankvert assured that permission has already been given, all that remains is to discuss it with the supplier. At the online meeting we will discuss technical part.

In fact, in any embargo, ban and sanctions under the pretext of compliance with phytosanitary rules there is always hidden policy. In this case, facing the threat of serious image and financial losses (America only dictates to Quito, but does not give anything), Ecuador decided to abandon plans to supply Soviet equipment to Kiev and continue a more pragmatic policy of benefiting from the export of its main product to Russia. This has already been officially announced, imports have been allowed, and the transfer of helicopters has been cancelled.

For Russia, such a decision is also beneficial - it promises not only an easy demonstrative victory over the US lobby in the Latin American region, so to speak, the US backyard, but also a reduction in prices, or, more precisely, restoration of the domestic market for sweet overseas berries, the prices of which have recently sharply increased. increased.