European Parliament committee supports increase in tariffs on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus
The Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament supported the European Commission’s initiative to increase tariffs on agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus by 50%. About this reported press service of the European Parliament.
The main goal of such measures is to reduce the EU’s dependence on agricultural imports from both countries. These are goods that have not yet been subject to other customs restrictions. In particular, the increased tariffs will apply to sugar, vinegar, flour and animal feed.
Also, the approved proposal provides for the establishment of duties in the amount of 6.5% on the import of fertilizers from Russia and Belarus, as well as additional payments in the amount of 40-45 euros per ton during 2025-2026. By 2028, these tariffs should increase to 430 euros per ton.
The European Parliament emphasizes that revenues from the export of fertilizers from Russia and Belarus contribute to the financing of the war against Ukraine. At the same time, the import of fertilizers in 2024 increased significantly compared to the previous year.
“This order to gradually increase customs duties on goods from Russia and Belarus will help prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine. It is unacceptable that three years after Russia launched a full-scale war, the EU is still buying critical products in large volumes.”, – noted the permanent rapporteur of the European Parliament on Russia, Inese Vaidere.
The decision will be put to the vote of the European Parliament during the plenary session in Brussels on Thursday, May 22.
