EU imposes 'punitive' tariffs on Russian, Belarusian agricultural products, fertilizers

The EU Council press service announced this on June 12, according to European Pravda.

The EU Council approved new tariffs on agricultural products and certain fertilizers produced in Russia and Belarus, which have not yet been subject to additional duties.

The aim of the measures is to reduce the dependence of European countries on Russian and Belarusian imports and to reduce the revenues of the Russian budget and its ability to finance the war against Ukraine. In addition, it may stimulate production within the EU.

"Compliance with these tariffs will be closely monitored to ensure that the European fertilizer industry and agricultural producers are protected. The increase in fertilizer tariffs will be gradual, with a 3-year transition period," the statement said.

When these changes come into force on July 1, 2025, EU tariffs will apply to all agricultural products from Russia.

The categories covered by the new tariffs cover about 15% of all agricultural imports from Russia to the EU as of 2023.

As for fertilizers from Russia, in 2023, the categories to which the duties were applied accounted for 25% of imports in this area - about 3.6 million tons worth €1.28 billion.

• In late May, the European Parliament supported the introduction of tariffs on these categories of products from Russia and Belarus. It is believed that tariffs of this level will effectively stop imports of these goods to the EU.
• Tariffs on most agricultural products from Russia and Belarus have been in effect in the EU since July 2024.