Brussels: Members of the European Parliament have voted to approve increased tariffs on agricultural goods imported from Russia and Belarus, aiming to reduce the European Union’s dependency on these imports. The decision, endorsed during a plenary session, targets products such as sugar, vinegar, flour, and animal feed, with tariffs set to rise by 50% on goods not previously subjected to extra customs duties.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the new regulation also imposes a 6.5% tariff on fertilisers imported from the two countries, with duties ranging from £40 to £45 per tonne for the period of 2025-2026. These tariffs are expected to escalate to £430 per tonne by 2028. The European Parliament believes that income from the sale of these fertilisers is contributing directly to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The measures are anticipated to significantly reduce EU imports of the concerned goods, whether they originate from Russia and Belarus or are exported directly or indirectly by them. This reduction is expected to encourage diversification within the EU’s fertiliser production sector, which has been affected by the low prices of imports. The legislation also includes provisions for the European Commission to monitor price increases and potential impacts on the internal market or EU agriculture sector and to take action if needed.
The regulation passed with 411 votes in favour, 100 against, and 78 abstentions. Inese Vaidere, the standing rapporteur for Russia, stated that the regulation will help prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war efforts. Vaidere emphasized the importance of the proposal in boosting EU fertiliser production and providing farmers with time to adjust to the changes.
Following the Parliament’s approval, the regulation now awaits formal adoption by the Council and subsequent publication in the Official Journal before it can be enacted. The regulation’s application to the remaining agricultural products listed in Annex I will commence four weeks after the bill’s entry into force.
Imports of urea and nitrogen-based fertilisers from Russia have seen significant increases in recent years, reflecting the EU’s economic dependence on Russia. The Commission presented the proposal to address potential threats to EU food security and vulnerability to coercive measures by Russia, marking a significant step in the EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russian and Belarusian imports.