QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A diplomatic rift between Ecuador and Russia appeared to accentuate over the weekend after the European nation determined to ban some imports of bananas from Ecuador.
The 2 international locations have been at loggerheads just lately after Ecuador determined to switch a few of its outdated Russian navy tools to the US, in alternate for $200 million in new navy gear.
On Saturday, Russia’s federal company for veterinary and phytosanitary controls introduced it was banning imports from 5 Ecuadorian banana firms, claiming {that a} illness had been present in earlier shipments of their fruits.
Ecuador is the world’s main banana exporter, with gross sales price round $3.5 billion in 2022. Round a fifth of its annual gross sales goes to Russia.
Russia’s determination to ban some banana imports got here after President Daniel Noboa introduced in January that Ecuador would switch a number of tons of outdated Russian-made navy tools to the US.
Noboa mentioned the tools was now not usable, and described it as “scrap metallic” that might get replaced with new tools wanted to struggle the drug gangs which have been terrorizing the nation.
Russia’s international ministry protested Noboa’s determination, saying that it violated a contract which stipulated that Ecuador couldn’t promote the tools to 3rd events with out Russia’s consent.
Carlos Estarellas a former Ecuadorian vice minister for international affairs mentioned that Russia’s determination to ban some banana imports might be in retaliation for the choice to ship the outdated navy equipement to the U.S.
“One would hope that this deadlock will be solved by means of diplomatic talks,” Estarellas mentioned.
Richard Salazar, the director of ACORBANEC, one in every of Ecuador’s essential associations of banana exporters, mentioned that he was “stunned” by Russia’s “drastic” determination, although he added that not less than 15 firms proceed to export bananas to Russia.
“It’s an important marketplace for us,” he mentioned, “and a market that might be tough to switch.”
Salazar mentioned his affiliation hadn’t been formally notified of the ban, however was looking for a gathering with authorities in Russia to deal with the issue and attempt to get the ban overturned.
