300% duty will not stop Russian grain transit through the Baltics — Lithuania seeks another mechanism

Latvia’s planned 300% duty on grain cargoes from Russia and Belarus will not automatically stop their transit through Baltic ports. Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Mažeika said that under EU rules, import duties cannot be applied to grain transported through the European Union in transit to third countries.

Latvia earlier announced plans to introduce a 300% duty on the import and handling of grain cargoes from Russia and Belarus. However, according to Mažeika, such a measure could apply to products imported into and remaining in the country, but not to transit shipments. Other legal mechanisms would therefore be needed to restrict their movement through Baltic ports.

Lithuania is already consulting with Latvia on possible coordinated measures. Vilnius believes the issue concerns all three Baltic states and that potential restrictions should therefore be coordinated at the regional level. The authorities are also considering tighter controls on the origin of grain cargoes.

Asta Skaisgirytė, chief foreign policy adviser to the Lithuanian president, called for a solution that would prevent ports in Lithuania and other EU countries on the Baltic Sea from being used for such shipments. Lithuania has also indicated that stricter measures at the national, regional or EU level may be needed if transshipment volumes increase.

The discussion in the Baltic states is therefore shifting from high duties toward mechanisms that could directly restrict grain transit. Latvia is seeking a common Baltic position, while consultations on possible further measures are continuing.

Tags: Russia, grain, Belarus, grain transportation, Latvia, Estonia, Klaipeda, Lithuania, rail transportation