The European Commission has adopted a proposal to introduce tariffs on the import of all agricultural goods and nitrogen fertilizers from Russia and Belarus that have not yet been subject to European restrictions.
This information was published on the European Commission's website.
"The European Commission has adopted a proposal to impose tariffs on a number of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as on certain nitrogen-based fertilisers.The agricultural products affected by the new tariffs constitute 15% of agricultural imports from Russia in 2023 that had not yet been subject to increased tariffs. Once adopted by the Council, all agricultural imports from Russia would be the subject of EU tariffs," the statement said.
The new tariff measures aim to reduce Europe's dependence on imports from Russia and Belarus. Such imports, particularly of fertilizers, make the EU potentially vulnerable to unfriendly actions from Russia, thereby posing risks to the EU's food security.
At the same time, the introduction of tariffs will encourage the growth of domestic European production and the development of the EU's fertilizer industry, which has been significantly affected by the energy crisis. This tariff policy will also promote the diversification of agricultural supplies from third countries, helping to ensure sustainable fertilizer supplies and their availability to European farmers at reasonable prices.
The new European tariffs are expected to negatively impact Russia's export revenues and reduce its ability to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.
However, the measures do not affect the supply of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and fertilizers to third countries, in line with the EU's commitments to support global food security, particularly in developing nations. In practice, this means that the terms of purchase and sale for such goods originating from Russia remain unchanged, as do the rules for using storage facilities within the EU, transporting goods on EU-registered ships, and providing insurance and financial services.
The European Commission's proposals will be reviewed by the European Parliament and the EU Council, which will make decisions based on a qualified majority, in accordance with EU legal norms applicable in such cases.
