Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Thursday, the European Parliament approved steep tariffs on fertilisers and specific agricultural products from Russia and its ally Belarus. This measure aims to safeguard EU food security and restrict Russian funding for its ongoing war against Ukraine.
MEPs have approved the European Commission‘s plan to raise EU taxes on Belarusian and Russian agricultural items that were previously exempt from additional customs levies by 50%. The goal is to further lessen EU reliance on the two nations. The increased tariffs will affect products such as animal feed, wheat, vinegar, and sugar.
How will EU tariffs impact Russian fertiliser exports?
As reported by the press of the EU Parliament, the text establishes a 6.5% tariff on fertilisers imported from Russia and Belarus, along with duties ranging from €40 to €45 per tonne for the 2025-2026 period. By 2028, these tariffs will increase to €430 per tonne. Revenue from the sale of Russian and Belarussian fertilisers is seen as directly supporting the war against Ukraine.
How is the EU reducing reliance on Russian goods?
The suggested actions will significantly decrease EU imports of the relevant goods, regardless of whether they come from the two countries or are exported by them either directly or indirectly. This is anticipated to lead to greater diversification in EU fertiliser production, which is currently affected by low import prices.
In 2024, imports of urea and nitrogen-based fertilisers from Russia, which were already elevated in 2023, increased substantially. The Commission indicates that these imports show an economic dependence on Russia. If this trend continues, it could threaten EU food security and particularly make the Union susceptible to potential coercive actions by Russia regarding fertilisers.
What role does the European Commission play in enforcement?
Moreover, the legislation also assigns the Commission the responsibility of monitoring price hikes and any potential harm to the internal market or the EU agriculture sector, along with taking measures to reduce the impact.
Previously, the European Union Parliament approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia on 24 February 2025. This package was adopted by the Council of the European Union on the same day, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
