Alberta pork producers prepare for Russian sanctions
Posted Aug 7, 2014 12:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta pork producers are bracing for a significant hit to their bottom line following a Russian ban on Canadian food products.
The ban, announced by Russian Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev, is a response to western sanctions and covers all produce typically imported from Europe, Australia, and North America.
Executive Director of Alberta Pork Darcy Fitzgerald said Alberta producers export nearly $500-million worth of pork per year.
He says the ban is cause for concern, producers are taking a wait-and-see approach to Thursday’s announcement, noting Russian consumers will be isolated and meat processors in that country will struggle as well.
“It’s not a good road to go down,” said Fitzpatrick. “For our producers I guess it’s just wait and see. We have many other countries we try to market to, but to try to move a half a billion dollars worth to other countries is pretty tough.”
Russia relies heavily on imports.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said Canada is prepared to impose further sanctions if the Putin government’s military aggression in eastern Ukraine continues.
