Exporters said London had acknowledged its dependence on Russia's white fish.

The UK has acknowledged its dependence on Russian whitefish by abandoning new tariff restrictions, the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs, and Exporters of Russia (VARPE) told RBK.

The organization noted a report in Undercurrent News that the UK will not impose additional restrictions on imports of Russian fish products from third countries in 2025. The organization explained that these are autonomous tariff quotas, under which cod and pollock products, as well as various types of shrimp and cane sugar , can be imported duty-free .

Russian fisheries cannot take advantage of the tax break because the UK imposed a 35% duty on a number of goods, including fish, seafood, and fish products, for shipments from Russia in 2022, which "practically eliminated direct shipments to the country," according to a statement from the VARPE.

However, the duty does not apply to supplies of Russian fish processed in third countries, the association noted.

" China accounts for 36% of all UK cod fillet imports and 35% of pollock imports. A significant portion of these products are produced from Russian raw materials. Therefore, the sanctions, which resulted in a prohibitive 35% tariff, have only led to a restructuring of logistics and higher prices for the end consumer," said German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fishermen (VARPE).

According to the organization's estimates, the UK imported 541,600 tonnes of fish and seafood in the first nine months of 2024 , of which supplies from China accounted for 10%, or 54,600 tonnes. Just over half (56%) of the products consisted of pollock and cod fillets and meat , and Russia is the world leader in the production of these fish species .

According to the Daily Express, half of Britain's fish and chip shops were previously at risk of closure due to rising food and energy prices. This occurred amid sanctions against Russia.

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