EU adopts new tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural imports

The European Union has approved fresh tariffs on agricultural goods and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus in an attempt to curb Russian funding for the war in Ukraine.

A regulation was adopted on Thursday by a majority of EU countries at a meeting in Luxembourg. The European Parliament has already given its green light.

The regulation extends duties to products not covered by existing tariffs, including sugar, vinegar, flour and animal feed.

When the legislation enters into force by July 1, all Russian agricultural products will be subject to duties, a statement from EU member states said.

The tariffs apply to products that made up around 15% of all agricultural imports from Russia in 2023, the statement said.

According to the European Parliament, imports of such products from Russia rose significantly again in 2024.

The regulation also provides for a 6.5% tariff on fertilizers imported from Russia and Belarus.

In 2023, the EU imported around a quarter of the fertilizers affected by the new duties from Russia, corresponding to a value of €1.28 billion ($1.49 billion), the parliament said.

The new duties will be increased gradually over three years, from between €40 and €45 per ton in 2025-26 to between €315 and €430 per ton by 2028.