Russia hopes China allocates duty-free quota for Russian grain imports - Agriculture Minister

MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - Russia hopes China will allocate a quota for duty-free imports of Russian grain, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said.

"The main issue [for expanding grain exports to China] is an agreement with our Chinese partners on the allocation of duty-free imports for their purchase of our grain. Right now, unfortunately, we don't have such a possibility. Shipments of all grains to China do not exceed 1 million tonnes [per year]," Lut said at a meeting on developing grain exports that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held in Chita on Tuesday.

The Agriculture Ministry, together with colleagues from the Economic Development Ministry, is regularly holding meetings with Chinese partners, she said.

"We really hope China will approve the allocation of a quota for us. This is a long process. Basically how we proceeded on pork for many, many years. Ultimately, we succeeded [in securing permission to export Russian pork to the Chinese market]. Here we're also hoping for a positive decision from our Chinese colleagues," Lut said.