MOSCOW, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Russian Industry and Trade

Minister Anton Alikhanov on Thursday shrugged off the likely

impact of an European Union ban on primary aluminium imports

from Russia, the state TASS news agency reported.

It cited him as saying that Moscow had itself cut its

aluminium supplies to Europe in recent years and would look for

other buyers.

EU envoys agreed a 16th package of sanctions on Russia on

Wednesday over Ukraine. The package is expected to be adopted by

the bloc's foreign ministers on Monday.

"I think it (the ban) is not particularly sensitive. Given

the fact that we have been reducing supplies there for the last

few years. We will look for substitute markets," TASS quoted

Alikhanov as saying.