Latvia’s new PM calls for cutting trade ties with Russia

Latvia’s new Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has called for a halt to trade with Russia, saying he intends to seek an end to both exports and imports, according to a report by Delfi.

Kulbergs said he would task Foreign Minister Baiba Braže with identifying a solution, while noting that any such move would need to be coordinated with the European Union, given Latvia’s integration within the bloc’s common trade system.

He reiterated his firm stance against maintaining economic ties with Russia. “This is an unnecessary dependency that only worsens the situation,” Kulbergs said.

At the same time, he acknowledged that certain sectors, particularly pharmaceuticals, present more complex challenges. Companies in this industry cannot rapidly shift to alternative markets due to the lengthy certification procedures required in other countries.

“I know that they have a plan, they are reducing [volumes], but this cannot be done overnight,” he said.

Kulbergs also pointed out that pharmaceutical companies possess chemical and biological expertise, as well as production capabilities that could prove strategically important for Latvia’s defence sector in a crisis.

According to the report, Latvia exported goods worth €244.15 million to Russia in the first three months of the year, while imports from Russia totalled €10.51 million.

By Tamilla Hasanova