Is it morally correct for the Philippines to still order Russian fertilizer?

[ASEAN NOW News]

Amid the worsening limitation of fertilizer supply worldwide, the Department of Agriculture- Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (DA-FPA) on Tuesday said Russia has vowed to supply traditional fertilizer urea to the Philippines.

 

“We are really lacking, but we are looking at how to solve these things. We have meetings with Russia, they have responded, I just received a call, that they are willing to supply us the fertilizer,” FPA Deputy Executive Director Myer Mula in a virtual presser.

 

File photo of Russia Fertilizer for export 

 

DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the volume of importation is yet to be determined.

 

“We already have a commitment, between Russia and the Philippines, through the DA-FPA, we will import Urea from Russia, maybe we will talk about the volume price soon,” he said.

 

Mula admitted the country’s supply of fertilizer is at risk, due to the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, with the country’s import dependency affected by the strategic supply restrictions of several countries, and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

 

“If you have to analyze it deeply, we are still import-dependent, hundred percent,” he said.

 

Sanctions not orders

 

While the Philippines seems to be going against the grain, the rest of the world does not want to trade with Russia.

 

For example The European Union has recently confirmed further proposed sanctions on Russia, including banning Russian oil imports by the end of this year.

 

These are the latest in a series of financial measures by Western countries in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

 

They were designed to hurt Russia's economy and penalise President Putin, high-ranking officials, and those who have benefited from his regime.

 

The planned new sanctions, which have yet to be approved by EU members, include:

 

Phasing out EU imports of Russian oil crude oil in six months and refined products by the end of 2022

Disconnecting Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, and the Credit Bank of Moscow and the Russian Agricultural Bank from the international payments system Swift, used to transfer money across borders

Cutting off three of Russia's state-owned broadcasters from the EU on cable, satellite and the internet

Sanctioning 58 Russians, including those involved in war crimes in Bucha and the siege of Mariupol.  State-owned Sberbank is one of the biggest Russian banks.

 

What sanctions are already in place?

 

Western countries have introduced increasingly widespread sanctions - targeting individuals, banks, businesses and major state-owned enterprises, and exports, among others.

 

Russia's central bank assets have been frozen, to stop it from using its $630bn (£470bn) of foreign currency reserves.

 

The UK has excluded key Russian banks from the UK financial system, frozen the assets of all Russian banks, barred Russian firms from borrowing money, and placed limits on deposits Russians can make at UK banks.

 

The US, EU, UK, and other countries have altogether already sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and businesses, including:

 

Wealthy business leaders, so-called oligarchs, who are considered close to the Kremlin, including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich who has been forced to sell the club this week.

 

Russian government officials and family members - including President Vladimir Putin's adult children and relatives of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

 

Assets belonging to President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are being frozen in the US, EU, UK and Canada.

 

What are multinational companies doing?

 

More than 1,000 international companies have either suspended trading in Russia, or are withdrawing altogether - including giants like Coca-Cola and Starbucks.

 

Maybe no one told the Philippines 

 

So, it becks the question is it right and correct that the Philippines Department of Agriculture- Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (DA-FPA) can first of all negotiate with this Russian fertilizer supplier and do so by even announcing it in an official press release?

 

They were quoted as saying considering the current situation, the DA noted it is impossible to reverse the increasing trend of fertilizer prices.

 

Besides Russia, the DA said they are also expecting fertilizer supply from Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, targeting at least 600,000 metric tons needed for the upcoming cropping seasons.

 

Surely it would have been wiser to spend more time finding more sources.

 

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[Deerculler]

Of course it is okay for PH to get food from Russia.

 People need food.

[ChaiyaTH]

What a silly question, i think it is morally incorrect to make normal people suffer worldwide, by these silly restrictions in the first place.

 

The west has nothing to do with Ukraine, let Russia have it. Most people there do not even seem to care, they even return from Europe back home already. One big theatre it is, just like covid.

Edited June 3, 2022 by ChaiyaTH