The 19th round of EU sanctions against Russia renews a ban on exporting sanitary ware to Russia.

The Australian National Review reports:

[https://anr.news/business/italian-firms-to-lose-e140-million-from-russian-toilet-sanctions-union-chief-rt-business-news/]

The EU originally prohibited the sale of sanitary ware, including toilets and bidets, in 2022 and recently renewed the restrictions as part of the 19th sanctions package adopted last week.

Vittorio Torrembini, head of the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs in Russia, condemned the measure as harmful to Italian businesses. “Unfortunately, the 19th sanctions package is a highly negative outcome, given the sectors it targets. It deals a significant blow to Italy,” Torrembini told RTVI on Tuesday.

According to Torrembini, the ban on sanitary ware exports to Russia will cost the Italian economy around €140 million ($163 million), while overall losses from the new sanctions package are expected to reach €250 million ($291 million). “The ban on toilet sales may sound amusing to Russians, but for us it is no laughing matter,” he said.

It's not the foot that Italy has shot itself in.