EU plans to impose tariffs on Russian fertilizers
The European Commission has announced that levies on specific nitrogen-based fertilizers will rise to a “prohibitive” level within the next three years. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The European Commission has announced plans to impose "prohibitive" tariffs on certain agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus as part of the European Union's efforts to decrease its dependency on Russian imports, which it identifies as a threat to food security, and to bolster domestic agriculture.
This initiative builds on last year's tariff increase for grain exported from Moscow and Minsk, targeting the remaining 15% of agricultural imports from Russia that were previously exempt from such tariffs.
Over a three-year transition period, duties on specific nitrogen-based fertilizers will increase incrementally, ultimately reaching a "prohibitive level" of 100%, according to the Commission's statement on Tuesday. In addition, tariffs on agricultural products imported from Russia and Belarus will rise by 50% and take effect as soon as the European Parliament and the Council approve them.
The Commission's press release indicated, “Once adopted by the Council, all agricultural imports from Russia would be the subject of EU tariffs.”
Currently, the tariffs on fertilizers are relatively low, set at 6.5%, the Commission noted.
In 2023, the EU imported 2.9 million tons of Russian agricultural products included in the proposed regulations, valued at approximately €380 million, based on data from the EU statistics agency Eurostat. Fertilizers from Russia affected by the regulation constituted over 25% of the EU's total imports by weight.
Last week, executives from three prominent European fertilizer companies urged Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter to establish tariffs of at least 30% on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus, as reported by S&P Global.
According to the Commission’s press release, these levies would bolster domestic production and benefit the EU's fertilizer sector, which has struggled due to high energy costs. The regulation aims to facilitate supply diversification from alternative nations.
The EU's measures will not impede the transit of Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to other countries and are not anticipated to adversely affect global food security, the Commission emphasized.
These proposed tariffs align with a comprehensive EU strategy designed to reduce Russia's export revenues and its capability to sustain military operations in Ukraine.
In reaction to last year's tariff hikes on Russian grain imports implemented by Brussels, Moscow cautioned that "consumers in Europe would definitely suffer" from increased prices.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
This initiative builds on last year's tariff increase for grain exported from Moscow and Minsk, targeting the remaining 15% of agricultural imports from Russia that were previously exempt from such tariffs.
Over a three-year transition period, duties on specific nitrogen-based fertilizers will increase incrementally, ultimately reaching a "prohibitive level" of 100%, according to the Commission's statement on Tuesday. In addition, tariffs on agricultural products imported from Russia and Belarus will rise by 50% and take effect as soon as the European Parliament and the Council approve them.
The Commission's press release indicated, “Once adopted by the Council, all agricultural imports from Russia would be the subject of EU tariffs.”
Currently, the tariffs on fertilizers are relatively low, set at 6.5%, the Commission noted.
In 2023, the EU imported 2.9 million tons of Russian agricultural products included in the proposed regulations, valued at approximately €380 million, based on data from the EU statistics agency Eurostat. Fertilizers from Russia affected by the regulation constituted over 25% of the EU's total imports by weight.
Last week, executives from three prominent European fertilizer companies urged Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter to establish tariffs of at least 30% on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus, as reported by S&P Global.
According to the Commission’s press release, these levies would bolster domestic production and benefit the EU's fertilizer sector, which has struggled due to high energy costs. The regulation aims to facilitate supply diversification from alternative nations.
The EU's measures will not impede the transit of Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to other countries and are not anticipated to adversely affect global food security, the Commission emphasized.
These proposed tariffs align with a comprehensive EU strategy designed to reduce Russia's export revenues and its capability to sustain military operations in Ukraine.
In reaction to last year's tariff hikes on Russian grain imports implemented by Brussels, Moscow cautioned that "consumers in Europe would definitely suffer" from increased prices.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
