Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said that Ankara and Moscow agreed to a principle agreement on lifting the ban on the purchase of tomatoes from Turkey as of Dec. 01.
According to Novak, the deal allows Russia to buy 50,000 tons of tomatoes from four Turkish companies starting from December.
He said some alterations should be made on the regulations regarding this issue and that the relevant documents are being prepared.
Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich earlier said Russia regarded as “possible deliveries of Turkish tomatoes to the Russian market amounting to about 50,000 tonnes from December to April.”
The developments in agriculture will be addressed at the Russian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission which will take place on Oct. 21 in Tatarstan's capital, Kazan.
On June 2, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree lifting the ban on some agricultural produce and Turkish companies involved in construction, engineering and tourism in the aftermath of a Russian fighter jet that was downed in 2015.
Following the lifting of the sanctions, Dvorkovich said that only two restrictions, visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and tomatoes, remained for Ankara and added that consultations on the seasonal admission of Turkish tomatoes to the Russian market would continue during the summer.
