European Parliament Committee Backs 50% Tariff Hike on Russian and Belarusian Agricultural Imports
The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade has endorsed a proposal by the European Commission to significantly increase tariffs on select agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, aiming to further reduce the bloc’s economic dependence on the two countries amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the press service of the European Parliament.
Under the proposed regulation, tariffs on certain agricultural goods not yet subject to existing EU trade restrictions, such as sugar, vinegar, flour, and animal feed, will be raised by 50%. A transitional period will be in place, with duties gradually increasing to €430 per tonne by 2028.
The move is expected to substantially curtail imports of these products into the EU, whether directly shipped from Russia and Belarus or rerouted through intermediaries. It is also seen as a strategic step toward diversifying the EU’s fertilizer production, a sector currently facing price distortions due to cheap imports.
The legislation includes provisions requiring the European Commission to monitor potential price increases that may impact the EU’s internal market or agricultural sector and to introduce mitigation measures if necessary.
The proposal is scheduled for a vote during the next plenary session of the European Parliament, set for May 22 in Brussels.
Since July 2024, the EU has imposed tariffs on the majority of agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus, especially grains. Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states have consistently called for a complete ban on such imports.
This measure is seen as part of a broader EU effort to align trade policy with its geopolitical stance and to fortify economic resilience against malign external influences.
As The Gaze reported earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has stated that the European Union should focus on a new package of sanctions to “suffocate Russia's economy” and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war against Ukraine.