Poland has asked the US to purchase the country's apples after Moscow banned all food imports from the EU, the US, and other countries who imposed sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
Prior to the full embargo on food exports from the West, Russia’s
agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor banned the import of
practically all fruits and vegetables from Poland, citing a
breach of food safety standards.
"We are interested in a quick decision because the situation
is extraordinary," said Poland's ambassador to Washington,
Ryszard Schnepf, as quoted by Polish press agency PAP.
He added that he had met with Michael Scuse, a senior official in
the US Department of Agriculture, and discussed the opening of
the US market to Polish apple producers.
"He told us to begin the procedure,” he said, adding
that the next meeting with US agricultural officials is planned
for August 18.
Rosselkhoznadzor banned Polish fruits and vegetables from August,
saying that they pose a threat to public health due to an
excessive amount of pesticide residue levels and the presence of
nitrates.
Read more: Russia’s food import ban sparks online frenzy in Poland
Agriculture is a crucial part of the Polish economy, as about 60
percent of Poland's territory is agricultural land. Poland is
Europe’s largest producer of apples and the biggest supplier to
the Russian market, accounting for 50 percent of apple imports.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Poland is the fifth largest producer of apples in the
world. China is in first place, followed by the US.
On Thursday, the restriction on Polish imports was followed by
Moscow’s full ban of EU, US, Australian, Canadian, and Norwegian
food exports to Russia. The ban was imposed for one year and came
in response to Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the
Ukraine crisis.
"There is a greater understanding on account of the fact that
the United States has also been hit by Russian sanctions,"
Schnepf said.
The US restricts the import of fresh fruit and vegetables from
the EU, with a few exceptions – including Polish exports of
peppers and broccoli, as well as apples and pears from Italy, PAP
reported.
Poland is one of the key European allies of the United States,
being part of both NATO and the EU. Warsaw has supported the US
in many initiatives, including the Global War on Terror,
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and coalition efforts
in Iraq.
In 2012, the US deployed a full-time aviation detachment at Łask
Air Base, which marked the first continuous presence of US troops
in Poland. Poland also plays a critical role in the European
Phased Adaptive Approach to NATO missile defense, under which the
US plans to deploy a missile defense system to Poland in 2018.
Earlier this year, the US increased its military presence in
Poland based on claims that Russia plans to intervene and is
amassing troops at the border.
According to the Pew Research Center, 79 percent of Poles viewed
the US favorably in 2002, and 67 percent in 2013.