AGRICULTURAL MOLDOVA TRIES TO EXTRICATE ITSELF FROM RUSSIAN MARKET.

The Moldovan government has applied to the European Union for “urgent exemptions” from tariff and other barriers to Moldovan agricultural products. The request cited the “dramatic impact” of Russia’s economic crisis upon Moldova, more than 60 percent of whose exports normally go to Russia. Those exports consist mostly of agricultural products, for which Russian importers are no longer in a position to pay, except in depreciated rubles.

Attempting to limit the losses caused by Russia’s financial crisis, the Moldovan government has canceled export quotas and charges while introducing additional charges on imports. It slapped a 5 percent tariff surcharge on imports from Russia and from neighboring Romania, indicating that Chisinau does not expect a resumption of “normal” trade with Russia soon and also that it is prepared to incur Romanian political displeasure. Moldova’s attempts since 1991 to orient its massive agricultural exports away from the Russian market have brought only meager results. This leaves Moldova vulnerable to the impact of Russia’s crisis (Flux, Basapress, September 13 and 14).

UKRAINE’S SECOND LARGEST MINING UNION DEMANDS CABINET RESIGNATION.