Ukraine Suspends Wheat Imports From Russian Regions Amid Trade Crisis

Russia's customs service has reportedly included all Ukrainian importers on its list of unreliable suppliers.

Ukraine has banned the import of wheat from Russia's major wheat-producing regions following reports that Russia's customs service has significantly tightened regulations for all Ukrainian imports.

Ukrainian Veterinary and Sanitary Service officials announced late on August 15 that wheat imports from Russia's Siberian, North Caucasus, and Southern federal districts have been suspended due to foot-and-mouth disease.

The statement came hours after Ukrainian goods started backing up along the Russian-Ukrainian border because of more intensive Russian customs inspections.

The Ukrainian Federation of Employers announced on August 14 that Russia's customs service had included all Ukrainian importers on its list of unreliable suppliers.

Gennady Onishchenko, the chief of Russia's consumer rights monitor, Rospotrebnadzor, denied on August 16 that Russia was waging a trade war with Ukraine to make Kyiv drop its pursuit of a free-trade deal with the European Union.

Based on reporting by Interfax, ITAR-TASS, and Rbc.ua