Don't grow the war with Russian fertilisers

Today, the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee approved a proposal to increase tariffs on agricultural products and fertilisers imported from Russia and Belarus.

The measure aims to reduce imports from these countries and decrease the EU's reliance on regimes funding the war in Ukraine.

“The decision to gradually raise customs duties on products from Russia and Belarus is a necessary step to stop Russia from using the EU market to fund its war against Ukraine. But frankly, it should have come much sooner,” said Inese Vaidere MEP, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the legislation.

“Just as we reduced our dependency on Russian gas, we must now act on fertilisers produced using that same gas. Continuing these imports would mean financing Russia’s war machine,” she continued. “This proposal is a balanced compromise: it strengthens the EU fertiliser industry, which has been undercut by cheap Russian imports, while giving farmers time to adapt. Additionally, I would like to highlight that the proposal sets higher import duties on agricultural goods, which will benefit European farmers and producers.”

The proposal includes monitoring fertiliser prices to protect EU farmers from market disruptions. If prices rise significantly above 2024 levels, the EU will take necessary action to remedy the situation, including, if appropriate, temporarily removing import duties on fertilisers from other suppliers, except Russia and Belarus.

The proposed legislation applies to the remaining 15% of Russian agricultural imports currently exempt from tariffs. Once passed, all these products will be subject to EU customs duties.