Russia suggests tobacco embargo

Vladimir Gutenyov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for Industry, said on August 19th that the government would possibly take into account the recommendations of some experts about the need to impose an embargo on the import of tobacco and alcoholic products from the EU and the U.S., according to the ITAR-TASS news agency. 

The retaliatory response was a reaction to the West’s sanctions policy.Gutenyov said it was also necessary to consider a new scheme of regulation of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages as a separate issue. He said Russia had reserved the right in the process of its accession to the World Trade Organization to impose temporary restrictions, in the event of a security threat to domestic producers.