Brazil to benefit from Russian ban on EU, US food

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil is likely to benefit from Russia's decision to restrict food imports from the United States and the European Union, a Brazilian daily reported Thursday.

Russia bans western food imports

According to the State of Sao Paulo, Russian officials met on Wednesday with a Brazilian delegation to discuss an increase in imports of Brazilian agricultural goods.

The Russian government decided to lift restrictions on Brazilian meat products, increasing the number of producers allowed to export to the country from 30 to 90, the daily said.

The measures, apparently in retaliation for US and EU sanctions stemming from the Ukraine crisis, appear to benefit Brazil's meat exports.

Brazil will not be the only South American country to benefit from the political row over Ukraine. Russian authorities have announced planned talks with diplomats from Ecuador, Chile and Argentina over the same issue.

Brazil, a large exporter of food products, especially meat, is a member of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, along with Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The United States slapped new penalties against Russia last month, while the EU approved tougher sanctions as well.