Russia to block US agricultural imports

Russia's loss.

Russia's loss.

Russia's loss is a global loss because Russia is also part of One World !

I hope Putin has a backup plan on food supply. They cannot produce much of what they import. One guarantee, Putin and his own will not go without.

If this keeps up and the US imposes harder more crippling sanctions as well as the Europeans getting some backbone and doing the same, Russia will be on it's knees sooner than later. If Russia doesn't want US produce exports, good, other countries will. Russia's loss.

1000 Ways to Cook Potatoes ...

Roasted .... gratin ... vodka ...

Sanctions only hurt people:citizens and businessmen.

Diplomacy involves talking and not making threats. "Do as we tell you." doesn't qualify as diplomatic effort.

IF Russia chooses to prohibit overflights, which is a distinct possibility, it would severely impact many airlines, costing a very great amount.

End sanctions and begin diplomacy.

Food and agricultural imports from the U.S. amounted to $1.3 billion last year,

Drop in the bucket of the total of over $144 billion of U.S. agricultural exports in 2013. The rich Russians who won't get their tree nuts and other prepared foods will feel more pain than the U.S. farmers will.

End sanctions and begin diplomacy.

Tell Russia that. Tell Russia, if they want the sanctions to end, they should have diplomatic talks.

You guys crack me up. It's kind of fun reading the USA! USA! crowd while Putin thumbs his nose at Obama and the NeoCons hegemonic plans. I really Americans would wake up and elect leaders who want to raise the living standards of average Americans, and stop these hegemonic resource games/wars.

This could back fire very quickly, especially on Europe.

http://www.nltimes.nl/2014/07/31/russia-sanctions-will-hit-rotterdam-port/

John Galt, Russia only negotiates when it has already lost. This the only reason we ever got SALTII signed - the Soviet Union was falling apart economically and could no longer continue with the escalation (real and implied) in weapons production that the Reagan administration had proposed.

While wounded animals can sometimes be more dangerous, the world, particularly Eastern Europe and the Balkans, would be much better off with a considerably diminished Russia.

One can only hope that the Russian populace understands why it is being punished.

And while the bribes have already been paid, there is still time to move the 2018 WC.

All that being said, it is Western Europe, not the U.S. or any other nation outside of Europe, that will pay this winter with no gas or, at best, prices many times higher than it is currently.

Not to be too revisionist, but Patton was right.

Russia would stop all gas to European countries if Putin got extremely angry about US-led sanctions. Lets see what happens this winter.

Politicians are quick to impose sanctions, but do they ever consider or even ask their own exporters what would be the cost. How many job losses, how many business and families facing financial hardships, resulting in far more domestic damage than their sanctions."John Galt"was correct in his comment,politicians should use diplomacy first, but then how many politicians are there, that know about dialogue and the art of conversation, people with different views discussing ways to find a solution. Political leaders only know, "I speak, you listen" without even thinking about consequences.

Russia's loss.

Why? Russia can import food from China in cheaper prices. And their relation only becomes stronger.

You guys crack me up. It's kind of fun reading the USA! USA! crowd

So we should lookup and be in wonder and awe about the wrongs that Russia is doing?

while Putin thumbs his nose at Obama and the NeoCons hegemonic plans. I really Americans would wake up and elect leaders who want to raise the living standards of average Americans, and stop these hegemonic resource GAMES/wars.

That you would sit on JT and support a thug like Putin and believe that this Jokers has his peoples best interest at heart, is not only outrageous and just plain looney, but Putin is THE worst leader known to mankind. If Russia is so great, why is it that they depend so much on foreign and US produce? Russia is a huge country, they should be able to do anything, but anyone that has been to Russia knows and has seen how easily things fall apart. Russia needs to try to create better and more reliable products and also stop thinking that they can annex any country they want. What's next? Maybe they want Alaska back as well? They can try that.

Good news for Russians. Especially kids that they wont have to eat the chemical-bloated genetical altered food products comes from America. As for Europe I guess its a pity. If someone thinks I'm exaggerating I dare him/her for a test. Just run to your local japanese supermarket and grab one american lemon and one from Hiroshima. Leave them outside the fridge for as long as you can. I bet you that the american one will last for at least double period, or maybe forever!

Russia's loss is a global loss because Russia is also part of One World !

Maybe not much longer.

Russia has vast rich lands and could grow all the foods it needs.

The Russians have a long history of failing to satisfy domestic food demand.

Aha! Putin preempted a US ban of exports of agricultural products to Russia, by banning imports of US agricultural products to Russia!

Man's a genius.

Would be nice to see this stuff calm down though. It all makes me wonder how all these countries full of ethnic Russians had their borders drawn up when the USSR collapsed. Anybody willing to enlighten me?

Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Kazakhstan are more than happy to make up for food imports.

...And then the US will put an embargo on these countries as well, thus tightening the noose more around Russia's neck. Now that would depend if the Obama administration would go to that length and if he had the balls, but it is doable.

If anybody is isolated, it's the US and the EU. Everybody else on the planet is still doing business with Russia and shunning sanctions.

For now, everyone has a limited. The US is in NO way isolated, Europe is a different story, but the Europeans are getting tired and more impatient with Russia and it will have very negative consequences in the weeks and months to come.

Russia has vast rich lands and could grow all the foods it needs.

Zichi -- really? Then how come they import 40% of the food needs?

Russia is one of very few countries that could close it boarders tomorrow and survive well, they produce more than enough food for the population, and have plenty of oil gas to keep the economy going. so banning fruit and veg is no real loss for them. wait for winter to come and then the EU will go really quiet, Putin will have his hand on the gas tap right about then. No im no Putin lover but many countries under estimate Russias self efficiency

Russia to block US agricultural imports

Things are just starting to heat up....... But never fear, this will end soon enough. I just wonder who will blink first?

Putin and Russia are being played, they just don't know it. He is a bit-part player in the continuing collapse of the Russian empire, his predictable reactions only further his country's declining influence. His only card is the energy card, if western & asian nations can take that from him then he is finished.

2014 and we still have narcissist control freaks in positions of power. Can't remember the whole song but the chorus was " short people have no feelings"

@Cricky, you mean Randy Newman's song?

He is a bit-part player in the continuing collapse of the Russian empire, his predictable reactions only further his country's declining influence. His only card is the energy card, if western & asian nations can take that from him then he is finished.

ClippetyClop -- spot on. Putin should be smart enough to learn from places like Dubai and Qutar and others in the Middle-east that recognize that energy is a temporary commodity -- hell just look at the fact that now the U.S. is a net energy exporter -- and so he needs to use the cash it is generating to diversify the economy and not just spend it all on arms. But he isn't that smart, and, as a result, as you suggest, Russia will continue to decline in influence.

Could be it's an old song, I was in the trenches when it was released. But to be on topic Vladimire (the foe of any innocent plane passenger) has a problem. Should be in a hospital rather then in control of a drunken state. Maybe shoes that lift him up might make him more congenial.

Do you own a map?

I sure do.

How is the US going to embargo TRADE between China and Russia?

Very easy. Do you have a PC? There are so many ways, that the US can block, banks, wiring money transfers, everything is linked and everything can be traced and the countries that do business with the US, that do billions of dollars in sales and trade, can be subjected to this blockade if they choose to do business with Russia, I'm not saying that there is a complete blockage, but the noose would be too tight for them, to the point of making them very uncomfortable.

And if you think that the US can and/or will embargo all of South America you're out of your mind.

You have to be insane to think that SA would risk the billions they deal with the US to help Russia. Most of them will not chance it. I can assure you of that.

When Putin plays Janken he only plays rock... and he always wins.

Well, those days are slowing getting darker for Vlad.

Seems Russia has just signed an oil deal with Iran for 500,000 barrels a day in exchange for Russian goods. Putin is cutting all kinds of deals outside the US dollar. The US/EU sanctions will backfire because of obama's sandbox mentality.

Chickens grow pretty fast and who doesn't like pistachios?

bass4funkAug. 07, 2014 - 10:04AM JST Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Kazakhstan are more than happy to make up for food imports. ...And then the US will put an embargo on these countries as well, thus tightening the noose more around Russia's neck.

yes, don't forget to put "embargo" on the world ))))) Funny.

The US is quaking i its boots, I guess. how avoidable was this spat.......

Russia depends heavily on imported foodstuffs — most of it from the West — particularly in the largest and most prosperous cities such as Moscow.

So a ban is in the people's best interests? How does that work?

Putin ready to starve the Russians. He doesn't care as long as the media hype shows a strong leader. It is only for a year so the Russians have to hunker down or throw the rascal out.

I'm from EU and I would prefer my country not to follow orders from USA because otherwise we gonna hurt our "friendship".

So you think US sanctions are unilateral and not done in consultation with the EU? I think that's very naïve on your part. The fact is that heavier US sanctions are fine with EU countries because the US doesn't have as much economic ties with Russia. Look at the article: US agriculture exports to Russia $1.3 vs. EU $15.8 billion.

Blocking agricultural imports... to starve his own people. Go on, Putin.

Oh dear, dear, dear. I can almost laugh at it.

It's pretty obvious by some of the posts which people ONLY get their news from the US GOV mouthpiece source. I can't really say sourceS because they all regurgitate the same propaganda. While Putin is playing chess and planning several moves ahead Obama is playing checkers as diplomacy.

@jeff huffman, SALT Talks, really? If you'll recall, the Cold War ended a long time ago, and Russia today isn't the Soviet Union of the past(nor is USA the Land of the Free it once was). I'll be the first to say that Russia has A LOT of room for improvement on many levels, but it's Russia who has been diplomatically resolving crises of late: Iran, Syria come to mind. US "diplomacy" has devolved to threats of sanctions, arming terrorist groups, and instigating terrorist-led uprisings, not to forget drone-bombing willy-nilly.

There are many sources of news in the West, John - unlike in Russia, where news is heavily censored.

How heavily? As one example, it appears Russia may block the website of the BBC Russian service.

Why? Well, it tuns out they interviewed a guy named Artyom Loskutov. He happens to be an organizer of the March for Siberian Federalisation, which was due to take place on 17 August in Novosibirsk, Siberia's largest city and the 3rd largest in Russia. Note that Siberia is not seeking independence; they basically want more say in how tax revenues extracted from Siberia are distributed.

Not only was the rally prohibited, but all reporting of it was as well. The Guardian notes:

Russia's prosecutor general has issued warnings to 14 media outlets covering the protest under the country's extremism law, and blocked an event page for the march on Russia's most popular social network.

So, Putin is faced with losing a great deal of tax revenue and also with unrest in a sparsely populated area along the Chinese border - a China with a burgeoning population, lack of resources, excessive male-female ratio, and arguably historical claims to much of the area.

You won't read about that in Russia, though. Most certainly not. But you can here: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/russia-bans-siberia-independence-march-extremism-law

@minello7, "quick" to impose sanctions? In my opinion it wasn't quick enough. This should have been done way back when their rebel involvement first became clear, BEFORE russia shot down the malaysian airliner. Sure they get to keep their jobs for the moment if you don't impose sanctions, but what is a job worth to anyone if you're bombed dead? Russia must be stopped, at all costs.

Russia has vast rich lands and could grow all the foods it needs

They'd better start tilling the soil right now.

Russia can import food from China in cheaper prices

No doubt and the Russians will love food produced in China.

Things would probably be in better shape if Russia didn't have such an inferiority complex. As one poster here said, even Russian bimbos in bars look up to men who are on the sanctions list. From the top to the bottom they are all thinking about us in their daily lives.

"So you think US sanctions are unilateral and not done in consultation with the EU? I think that's very naïve on your part. The fact is that heavier US sanctions are fine with EU countries because the US doesn't have as much economic ties with Russia. Look at the article: US agriculture exports to Russia $1.3 vs. EU $15.8 billion."

Thats right the EU has much more to lose from these sanctions, but still it was forced to follow the USA indications otherwise their gonna spoil the "friendship". As USA says "if you are not with us you are against us". Great friendship from someone who has recently been revealed it was a big spy also, but lets forget that too. Well I don't expect much from a country that is spying its own citizen all day and at the same time has managed to convince them its for their own good. I just wished that EU had the balls to say NO like Russia and some other countries.

@fuzz

Seems Russia has just signed an oil deal with Iran for 500,000 barrels a day in EXCHANGE for Russian goods. Putin is cutting all kinds of deals outside the US dollar. The US/EU sanctions will backfire because of obama's sandbox mentality.

Chickens grow pretty fast and who doesn't like pistachios?

WT......

Give it time, the more Russia tries to progress with his plans to take over what might be possibly the entire country which would be economically a disaster for Russia if it did, let them try and see. By the way, Iran and Russia can sign a deal all they want, the sanctions already have been having an affect on both countries and stronger sanctions will as well. Stay tuned.

@siniestro

Just because EU and conquered Japan are pupils of USA doesn't mean the whole world is USA's dog.

Do I hear US paranoia from that statement?

By the way do you like the idea only of USA is gonna tell them to ban this, ban that, ban them ? Isn't it better for the countries to decide what to do on their own? I haven't seen yet Russia telling any other countries to ban someone.

Russia doesn't have to, they just Blackmail Europe and intimidate them into going along with them or they just cut off their energy supply. Also, Russia would never tell anyone what to do, they just take and annex it. Dude, come on....

I'm from EU and I would prefer my country not to follow orders from USA because otherwise we gonna hurt our "friendship".

And you think, Europe has a decent and healthy as you would say, friendship with Russia??? I don't think so.

@akbfan

The US is quaking i its boots, I guess. how avoidable was this spat.......

The US, "NO." Obama, now that's an entirely different story.

Zichi, during Tsarist times, the Ukrainian provinces of the Russian Empire were referred to as the Empire's breadbasket. (I know - this makes the Holodomor, the Stalin-orchestrated famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1932 and 1933 that killed about 4 million Ukrainians, rather ironic.)

Perhaps Russia could import food from Ukraine.

Laguna during Tsarist times, the Ukrainian provinces of the Russian Empire were referred to as the Empire's breadbasket. (I know

It was no Ukrainian provinces In Russian Empire

Ukraine BEFORE entering in Russia was a pretty small

this makes the Holodomor, the Stalin-orchestrated famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1932 and 1933 that killed about 4 million Ukrainians, rather ironic.)

1 It was NO Holodomor my friend

Yes it is so

2 It was Hunger in ALL USSR in this time 1932 -1933 not only Ukraine

3 In Soviet province Ukraine at this time living also Russian Jews Greeks Tatars Armenians and so on

not only Ukrainian

Western propaganda eh?

Perhaps Russia could import food from Ukraine

It is no more Ukraine ( failed state , economy collapsed) -due to gently help from EU&US

I sure hope this is just the beginning. Although I'm native Russian, and for the time being I live in Russia, I think its high time to show Russians that in 21 century (compared to, say, USSR in the first half of 20th) no country could and should exist in vacuum and isolation. And the harder it hits, the better the effect. Maybe it will teach Russians something other than stupid ululations of their so called patriotism (which has nothing in common with the real patriotism).

As for myself though, I'm starting to think about packing my belongings and going back to Japan - with the trend being as it is, and with the madness that's going on in Russian government, in a few years there will be sanctions on scientists, software engineers, and other important specialists being prohibited from leaving the country.

Putin, continues to isolate his country. Strangely, during my many years in Japan I spoke with many Russians I met and they overwhelmingly adored him even as he oppressed their countrymen and eroded their rights.

Why do the Russian people no stand up to this bully?

Russia's loss.

Quite true. A loss of Monsanto-produced, GMO foodstuffs from the U.S. I'm sure Russia will get over it.

badman Putin, continues to isolate his country.

1 EU&US - is not WHOLE world

2 It is a response on "sanctions"

Strangely, during my many years in Japan I spoke with many Russians I met and they overwhelmingly adored him even as he oppressed their countrymen and eroded their rights. Why do the Russian people no stand up to this bully?

It's Russian president and he should be popular in Russia and not in US

Another point about the Holodomor is that it most greatly affected Ukrainians in eastern Ukraine, creating a population vacuum that was filled by ethnic Russians, who now want to partition the country. Stalin was very long in his vision, it appears.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Famine_en_URSS_1933.jpg

@badman, I think they adore him, because it is so much easier to do so when you are abroad, in a developed country. Many of my Russian friends both in Japan and in other countries do this. Imagine yourself in their shoes - all your troubles (like those that common folk in Russia has to deal on a daily basis) are gone, but you're still pissed at the rest of the world because you think it is thanks to the US and Europe that Russia is in such a sorry state. And then comes someone who promises to rebuild the country, and even though he sorta fails, you read Russian state media that tells otherwise and somehow feel better. Well, at least that's my hypothesis - I can no longer understand this Russian mentality and patriotic hysteria that's going on here.

Putin is a the last hope we have against these Zionists. I support him 100% with these sanctions and wished we had more leaders like him.

Russia to block US agricultural imports

Putin is twisting the truth. He is still in denial..

The truth is US, Europe, G7 are not sending food to Russia due to the sanction. That is a 40% of Russian food supply.

youll find Russia will require all of its exports to be bought in Rubils cutting out the US$ all together. not using the $ to trade in energy will hurt the US much more in the long term. it will temp other countries to follow suit. US certainly wont try to invade Russia to force them to return back to the $, unlike Iraq

@wtfjapan

From Bloomberg:

"The greenback’s share of global reserves has already shrunk to under 61 percent from more than 72 percent in 2001."

"Russia's loss."

"Why? Russia can import food from China in cheaper prices. And their relation only becomes stronger."

The Russians prefer high quality food.

Looks like Kiev is burning again. Not sure why yet. But I'm sure the US will blame Russia and sanction, maybe,....Levi's jeans.

Several of you have posted that Russia is food self-sufficient. Where you get this idea is beyond me. Russia's a bit better off today in terms of food only in that the population is declining. But like S. Korea's and Japan's it's also aging.

Russia has not been food self-sufficient since the early 20th century and lost it's "bread basket" when, wait for it, the Soviet Union broke up and Ukraine became independent.

Russia has a short growing season and, if cut off from food imports, would be faced with shortages, particularly in the winter, of vegetables, fruits and even grains.

http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/oxfam-rioplus20-case-study-russia-jun2012.pdf

True Jeff, but with a little solar power and a greenhouse, it can be done. Hydroponics? A Japanese company is already setting up, to market their "100% engineered" industrial hydroponic manufacturing system for growing veggies. Stocks? or Venture? Hmmmmm

Russian's are going to get tired of Tzar Putin when their cost for food goes up and the cost for fuel goes up. The rest of the world will see a reduction in cost as the surplus that Russia has been buying, they are net food importers, will remain in the local markets. The world wins when Russia loses.

Russia cannot win the sanctions battle since the Allies could just sell the goods to many other countries including each other, while no other country is following on Russia sanctioning the Allies.

Strict US sanctions have been applied to Iran, Vietnam, Cuba, and North Korea, and all those countries trundled along with their regimes intact. They're still in place today. Is that what you mean by "sooner rather than later", or do you mean that Russia's different?

Yes, they are still intact, crippled, somewhat functioning and sorta a kind of existence, but yes, still intact. As for Vietnam, the US has reestablished diplomatic relations, opened a new embassy and doing more trade. The Vietnamese are not a problem.

For all the knob-waving the US goes in for, it doesn't really get things done, does it?

This administration, NO it doesn't and for the next two years, it never most likely will.

@burningbush

It can and will

for now.

China has to feed too many of its own people. Sure Russia is a big country, Isn't Russia snowy and their lands are called Frozen Lands? Tundra?

Imagine a bucket with 10 holes in it.

We call those "Russian buckets."

(bada bing)

I hear the Chinese have a job lot of mouldy chicken nuggets that they are willing to sell to Putin at a very reasonable price.

If any of you have had the chance to see the old American TV show "The Three Stooges", I'd say that's what the Ukrainian government is looking like right now.

Ukraine's Prime Minister:

Ukraine ready to impose sanctions against any transit via its territory, including air flights and gas supplies to Europe, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Friday. Ukraine's Parliament will vote on the sanctions on Tuesday.

I doubt Putin is going to hurt anybody but ordinary Russians with his "sanctions."

@bass4funkAUG. 07, 2014 - 10:04AM JST

...And then the US will put an embargo on these countries as well, thus tightening the noose more around Russia's neck.

Pipe dreaming. Cuba lives under American trade blocade and various embargos for years. Russia is way bigger than Cuba. So, American sanctions are sort of bubbles.

@bass4funkAUG. 07, 2014 - 11:58AM JST

You have to be insane to think that SA would risk the billions they deal with the US to help Russia. Most of them will not chance it. I can assure you of that.

Have you ever been in any country of Latin America? Mind you, they don't care about U.S. anger, let alone any possible embargo. If Russia invite them, they will join to trade agreement immediately.

@bass4funkAUG. 08, 2014 - 08:00AM JST

The Vietnamese are not a problem

Vietnamese think that America is not a problem for them. Every year Vietnamese organize a military parade in their capital dedicated to Great Victory over American troops.

@Valery "I sure hope this is just the beginning. Although I'm native Russian, and for the time being I live in Russia"

I know Im going off the topic here, but you say your Russian and even a foreigner can talk good english, sheesh even Australians can talk good english, but Id really enjoy your being native and talking like one, otherwise you just seem to me a fake.

God knows the truth though.

Alexeenko also was quoted as saying he thinks all fruits and vegetables from European Union countries will also be banned.

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I feel sorry for Russian people. Cold winter is coming and they face food shortage. Not only American agriculture food but European fruits and vegetables. Can't they sanction only expensive none-food products?

toshiko I feel sorry for Russian people. Cold winter is coming and they face food shortage.

1 Thank you so much for your deep feeling toward Russian people

2 Historically Russia was alway first of all a food producer (for 1 thousand years)

3 Russia has a lot of money (EU sold food , and did not provided humanitarian assistance)

It WAS a business

4 This winter Ukraine will need a lot of food and fuel.

(as a humanitarian assistance )