Osmochescu: Moldova Has No Right to Impose Barriers on Grain Imports

Economy Minister Eugen Osmochescu commented on the demand by the “Farmers’ Power” Association to reinstate licensing for grain imports into Moldova. According to him, implementing such a measure is impossible without taking into account the international obligations that Moldova has assumed under trade agreements, reports agora.md “Introducing a licensing system is not as simple as it might seem, since it involves an international legal framework to which both we and Ukraine are parties. First and foremost, this concerns the World Trade Organization. We cannot unilaterally impose any barriers,” noted Eugen Osmochescu. The minister added that the authorities are investigating another issue: whether grain of Ukrainian origin passes through Moldovan territory solely in transit or enters the domestic market, where it is then sold as a product of a different origin. According to Osmochescu, the authorities are consulting with business representatives, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to find solutions that will allow for more effective control of grain supplies.