Poland will veto Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if Russia continues to restrict Polish meat imports.

Both Polish president Lech Kaczynski and trade representatives stated they were considering this move. Polish authorities, both increasingly bellicose and hysterical, keep up verbal assault on Russia while Russian government remains silent and seemingly ignores the latest wave of provocations.

Poland will veto Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if Russia continues to restrict Polish meat imports.

Both Polish president Lech Kaczynski and trade representatives stated they were considering this move. Polish authorities, both increasingly bellicose and hysterical, keep up verbal assault on Russia while Russian government remains silent and seemingly ignores the latest wave of provocations.

For 17 months now, Russia has been restricting imports of Polish meat and some other agricultural products because these products do not meet Russia’s quality requirements; in addition, the Russian certificates have been routinely falsified.

Both Poland and its backer the EU say that they believe trade problems are related to political motives, however the Polish meat ban is extremely popular in Russia. While Russia is a major meat importer and Russian consumers want to see beef and other meat products from Austria, Italy, Germany, France and South America, meat from Poland is a virtual taboo. Polish meat or rather meat from different sources like China shipped under Polish certificates has bad reputation and was rarely sold in retail stores though was extensively used by meat processing industry before the current restrictions were imposed. Alccording to all opinion polls held in Russia, the majority considers Poland an enemy, though it still fairs favorably when compared to Estonia and Latvia, two enthnofascist statelets and NATO protectorates in the northeastern Baltic. According to Northwestern opinion poll in St. Petersburg and Northwestern Russia, 70% of respondents considered Poland hostile or enemy state; only Estonia and Latvia faired worse with 80% and 76%. In contrast only 3% of respondents thought France might fit that role and 4% considered Germany a hostile nation.

Russian authorities stated on numerous occasions that the restrictions are not politically motivated while Russian consumer groups claim if restrictions are lifted there would be no way for consumer to detect if Polish meat was used in processed products .