EU increases duties on fertilisers and agricultural products from Russia

Despite warnings from the agricultural world, the European Parliament today approved the introduction of new duties on fertilisers from Russia and Belarus and the 50% increase in tariffs on sugar, feed and flour. With 411 votes in favour, 100 against and 78 abstentions, MEPs gave the green light to the Commission's proposal to increase EU duties by 50% on agricultural products of Russian and Belarusian origin not yet subject to additional customs duties. The affected goods include sugar, vinegar, flour and animal feed.

The proposal also foresees a duty of 6.5% on fertilisers imported from the two countries, plus tariffs of between EUR 40 and 45 per tonne for 2025-2026. These duties will increase to EUR 430 per tonne by 2028. Revenues from fertiliser exports by Russia and Belarus are considered a direct contribution to the financing of the Russian war against Ukraine.

The new measures will significantly reduce imports into the EU of the goods concerned, whether they are of direct origin or exported indirectly from Russia and Belarus. This, according to the Europarliament should encourage greater diversification of European fertiliser production, which is currently penalised by low import prices. The approved regulation finally entrusts the Commission with the task of monitoring any price increases and the effects on the internal market and European agriculture, and to take corrective measures if necessary.

"This regulation, which provides for a gradual increase in customs duties on products from Russia and Belarus, will help to prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war apparatus," emphasises the Parliament's permanent rapporteur on Russia, Inese Vaidere. It is not acceptable that, three years after the start of the war on a large scale, the EU continues to purchase large quantities of strategic products. On the contrary,imports have even increased significantly'.

According to Vaidere, 'the proposal will also strengthen fertiliser production in the EU, which is suffering from low Russian import prices, while giving farmers time to adapt. A key point of the proposal is the inclusion of monitoring provisions that will allow the Commission to observe the fertiliser market and intervene in the event of a price spike'.