Rising tensions between the US and Russia now have a French connection. A top Russian official has said the country is planning to stop importing French fries from the US.

The ban is also expected to extend to other Western countries that have placed sanctions on Russia.

The move also seems to mirror US President Donald Trump’s policies to make things locally. Russia has apparently bought enough equipment to meet its internal demand for French fries on its own.

Making French fries domestically

Russia currently imports 94 percent of the French fries consumed in the country. The total amount of French fries Russians eat every year is around 106,000 tons.

However, Russia’s National Horticultural Union head Sergey Korolev has now told Russia Today that the country is taking another route now. Russia has reportedly bought its own equipment with which to produce French fries.

Korolev made a statement on the matter, according to some local news outlets. He said Russia was now capable producing its own French fries. And this was both in terms of potato production and the infrastructure.

The RT report quoted Korolev as saying: “The introduction of restrictions on the supply of imported frozen French fries, according to the Union, will not only support domestic agricultural producers engaged in the production of raw potatoes, but will also contribute to the preservation of jobs at newly established processing enterprises, and will increase the safety and quality of the product.”

Boost for farmers

Much like how Trump has stopped the import of certain materials from abroad in order to give a boost to local growers and manufacturers, Korolev’s proposed move seems to be one aimed at helping Russian farmers and the manufacturing industry.

The first of the plants employing the aforementioned equipment to make fries opened in April. More are said to be coming up soon.

The move, according to local reports, will also ensure better quality of the French fries consumed by the Russian masses.

Interestingly, McDonald’s in Russia is already using locally-sourced potatoes for its fries. It started the practice in late April after the US sanctions hit.

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