The commercial relations between Russia and Moldova following the latest developments and decisions were discussed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Andrian Candu and Russian Ambassador to Moldova Farit Muhametsin. The Russian diplomat said the measures applied by Russia to Moldova, in relation to the Moldovan products, do not mean the termination of the economic relations between the two states and the blocking of exports, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué of the Ministry of Economy, Andrian Candu and Farit Muhametshin underlined the necessity of intensifying the bilateral dialogue at a higher level, between ministers of economy and heads of government, so as to prevent the introduction of customs taxes applying to Moldovan exporters from September 1 by Russia.

“We are open for s sincere dialogue with the Russian side, with the participation of representatives of the competent ministries, Rospotrebnadzor, Rosselhoznadzor, the Federal Customs Service and Moldovan experts. We want to identify compromise solutions by more intense communication and objective examinations so as to prove that Moldova’s aspirations for European integration do not affect the economic relations with Russia and customs taxes should not be imposed on Moldovan exporters from September 1,” said the minister of economy.

For his part, the ambassador said that despite the Russian Government’s decision to introduce customs duties for a number of Moldovan products, constructive discussions between experts and the competent authorities should be held within the Moldovan-Russian cooperation agenda. Moreover, the announced measures do not mean the termination of the economic relations between the two states. The time is now opportune for stepping up the dialogue within the Moldovan-Russian institutions and the intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation and between Russian and Moldovan businessmen, including between the chambers of trade and industry and at the level of the Russia-Moldova Business Council.

In the middle of July, Russia banned the import of fresh and canned fruit from Moldova. A Russian Government decision to introduce customs duties on the import of grains and other agricultural products and on industrial products, such as furniture, from Moldova is to come into force on September 1.