MINSK, 26 August (BelTA) – Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Subbotin commented on the grain export ban, BelTA has learned.
"We had such export ban in the spring. This is a temporary measure," the deputy prime minister said.
Aleksandr Subbotin explained that such a step does not contradict the international law, including Belarus' obligations within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. "We prohibit the export of grain in order to saturate the domestic market. If we see that everything is going well, then, of course, we will lift this ‘curtain'. But for the time being the ban is in effect. The priority is the domestic market, our people."
He also emphasized that although coarse grain is a high-value export item, it is ultimately used to feed poultry and livestock, which makes it a much more marginal product. "This chain is quite long. Our goal is to make as much profit as possible and keep it in our country," said Aleksandr Subbotin.
As BelTA has reported, the Council of Ministers has suspended the export of wheat and meslin, rye, barley, oats, corn, buckwheat, millet, triticale and other cereals, and also rapeseeds. Resolution No. 482 of the Council of Ministers of 24 August 2021 was officially published on the National Legal Internet Portal on 26 August.
According to the document, the government has suspended the export of these goods outside Belarus to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, regardless of the country of origin, and also the export of goods placed under customs procedures for export, temporary exportation, processing outside the customs territory and re-export outside the customs territory of the EAEU to states that are not members of the union.
The resolution does not apply to the humanitarian aid the Belarusian government provides to other countries. Apart from that, it does not apply to international transit shipments that begin and end outside the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union and to goods, which are subjected to customs procedures in another EAEU member state and are transported in transit via Belarus.
The Resolution comes into force on the day of its official publication and shall stay in effect for six months.
