Latvia bans the import of goods from Russia and Belarus starting September 1

Latvia will ban the import of a series of goods from Russia and Belarus, with the measure set to come into effect on September 1, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the approval of the ban by parliament in July, the government finalized the list of affected products, which includes books, newspapers, clothing, footwear, toys, and sports equipment. The purpose of this measure is to protect Latvia's security interests, reduce export revenues from Russia and Belarus, and restrict the import of Russian propaganda materials.

Latvia, a strong supporter of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, has already imposed additional national restrictions alongside EU sanctions, and the value of imports from these countries has dramatically decreased by 91% in 2022.

Companies that continue trade with Russia and Belarus are listed in a public registry.