Russia is set to halt imports of Belarusian sugar in the long run, Russian Agriculture Minister Aleksei Gordeyev said in an interview published by the Russian newspaper Vedomosti on Tuesday.

“For Belarus, we have found a scheme for two years. We should reduce supplies of sugar from Belarus to zero in the long run. Because they do not have a potential for making sugar better and cheaper than we.”

During talks on supplies of Belarusian sugar held in Moscow on January 17, Belarus agreed to cut exports to 180,000 tons in 2007 and to 100,000 tons in 2008, told BelaPAN.

The talks were held amid a move by the Federal Customs Service of Russia to halt the release of railcars loaded with Belarusian sugar.

Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bambiza then said that the deal was not about the imposition of import quotas on Belarusian sugar. “The Belarusian side voluntarily assumes 'self-restraint obligations,” he said.

“At the request of the Belarusian side, we decided against imposing quotas and they suggested to impose a self-restriction on themselves. We know all volumes and it is impossible to conceal anything from us. We do not have problems with control,” Mr. Gordeyev stressed.

The official warned that if Belarus failed to comply Russia would impose a quota on imports of its sugar or even a customs duty.