The transit of Western-sanctioned items from Türkiye to Russia has been halted this month, a yr into the conflict in Ukraine and after rising objections from the U.S. and Europe, a prime export official and a diplomat claimed Monday.
The Turkish authorities handed firms an inventory of banned international items and instructed them to not ship them to Russia starting on March 1, mentioned Çetin Tecdelioğlu, head of the Istanbul Ferrous and Nonferrous Metals Exporters Association (IDDMIB).
“Any goods on that list are blocked for Russia, no matter which country they come from,” he instructed Reuters.
A European Union official mentioned that Ankara had given the European Commission verbal assurance that from March 1, items wouldn’t transit onward to Russia if they’re lined by EU, U.S. or U.Ok. sanctions and export controls.
Western nations slapped document sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February final yr.
Yet provide channels have remained open from Black Sea neighbor Türkiye and different world buying and selling hubs, prompting Washington to warn final month concerning the export of chemical substances, microchips and different merchandise that can be utilized in Moscow’s conflict effort.
NATO member Ankara has sought to stability its good ties with each Moscow and Kyiv amid the conflict. It opposes the sanctions on precept however has mentioned they won’t be circumvented in Türkiye and that no shipped merchandise can be utilized by Russia’s army.
Kommersant and Vedomosti newspaper, citing Russian logistics firms, final week claimed Ankara had suspended transit of sanctioned cargoes flowing to Russia by its territory.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko mentioned Russia was in touch with the Turkish authorities relating to the allegations.
“We are currently in contact with the Turkish authorities, I would not make comment, it is necessary to look into the matter,” the Tass news company cited him.
Given the “serious warnings” from Western governments, this was an “opportunity” to keep away from a confrontation with the EU, the vacation spot of half of the Turkish exports below a joint customs union, Tecdelioğlu instructed reporters.
“There was a list of restrictions on re-exports from free trade zones to Russia beginning in March, and an instruction was given,” he mentioned.
However, items produced in Türkiye, even with parts from different international locations, can nonetheless be shipped to Russia with out restrictions, Tecdelioğlu added additional.
He mentioned Türkiye’s new restrictions set off a search amongst Russian importers for different suppliers in Kazakhstan and elsewhere. “They don’t care about the cost anymore. They are just trying to finish their products,” he mentioned.
Reuters reported final week that Russian firms had flooded Kazakh companions in latest weeks with new requests for some hundreds of things banned by the West, with two of the sources citing new Türkiye restrictions.
At least $2.6 billion of pc and different digital parts flowed into Russia within the seven months to Oct. 31, Reuters individually reported in December. At least $777 million of those merchandise have been made by Western companies whose chips have been present in Russian weapons programs.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
