The Wall Street Journal notes Russians Can’t Sell Vodka or Caviar to the EU Anymore
The import bans are a very small part of a fifth package of wider sanctions imposed on Russia by the bloc over its invasion of Ukraine. The new sanctions package includes a range of energy, financial and targeted sanctions against oligarchs as well as import and export bans. The EU is also sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two daughters. The sanctions are set to come into effect later Friday.
Most of Russian caviar production is consumed at home. The EU imported 1.7 million euros, equivalent to about $1.85 million, of caviar from Russia in 2021. In 2020, Russia’s global caviar export volumes fell to their lowest level in years, according to a European Commission report.
Also on the latest import ban list is vodka, Russia’s best-known alcoholic import. In 2021, the EU imported €78 million worth of vodka, according to the bloc’s statistical office.
EU Sanction List
- Various oligarchs
- Putin
- Putin’s daughters
- $1.85 million of caviar
- €78 million worth of vodka
Not On Sanction List
- Natural Gas
- Oil
- Coal
This week the EU could not even get agreement on banning Russian coal. The European Council president made that proposal but it did not fly.
All it takes is one nation out of 27 to block sanctions. This is why it is extremely difficult for the EU to get agreement on anything.
It took over 10 years for the EU to get a very simple trade agreement with Canada.
Changes to agricultural policy won’t happen because France will never agree. For 30 years France has killed the lifting of agricultural tariffs in global trade negotiations.
Eurobonds aren’t a good idea, but a majority of the Eurozone countries want them The debate is moot because all it takes is one nation to block them. Not only does it take unanimous vote to change them, Germany would also have to change it’s own constitution to allow them. As it currently stands Germany, Finland, and Austria will not agree to Eurobonds and debt comingling.
An EU army (another bad idea) will also take unanimous consent.
Occasionally, the EU manages to do something. When that happens it’s because there was a carve out in the initial EU treaty that for some small subset of things it only takes majority consent.
US Sanction Policy Forces Russia to Default
Meanwhile, US Sanction Policy Forces Russia to Default. Let’s Go Over the Ramifications
Russia cannot pay its dollar-denominated debt and in some cases euro-denominated due to US sanctions.
Q: Who is Russia defaulting on?
A: Primarily European companies but US companies as well.
Essentially, the US is forcing Russia to not pay its bills which means Russia keeps its Euro and dollar reserves.
Russia cannot buy US items directly but it still can get them from China, India, or other countries that refuse to enforce US sanctions.
Warning to India
The US also warned China.
The Stupidity of it All
Who’s Sanctioning Whom?
These sanctions not only don’t work, they have backfired miserably.
Note that Putin Will Collect a $321 Billion Windfall Partially Thanks to Sanctions
Massive Urge to Do Something
Despite sanctions backfiring, the US and EU insist on more of them.
We are now down to the bottom of the EU barrel including sanctions on Putin’s daughters, vodka, and caviar.
When it comes to sanctions and meaningful actions very few realize Sometimes the Best Thing to Do Is Nothing At All
At least caviar and vodka won’t backfire like some of the other actions have done.
This post originated on MishTalk.Com.
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Mish
Kooky Konspiracy of the day award right here.
No, the war is because of the guy on the grassy knoll. Hilarious!
We understand the need for, and embrace sacrifice! By other people.
They will be thinking of how they are eating the caviar the oligarchs used to commandeer.