EU imposes duties on Russian grain and oilseeds

At today’s meeting of the EU Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade, which took place in Brussels, it was decided to impose tariffs on imports of grain products from Russia and Belarus. This was stated by the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.

“EU ministers have agreed to increase tariffs on grain imports by Russia/Belarus from July 1 to stop Russian grain from destabilizing the EU agricultural sector; to limit Russia’s revenues to finance its war with Ukraine; and to combat illegal exports of stolen Ukrainian grain from Russia to EU markets,” he wrote.

The EU Council website states that the resolution increases duties on grains, oilseeds and products from Russia and Belarus to a level that will effectively stop imports of these products.

“The resolution raises import tariffs on grains, oilseeds and derivative products, as well as on beet pulp pellets and dried peas from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, for which importers currently pay no or low duties. In addition, these products will be deprived of access to the Union’s tariff quotas,” the statement said.

Belgium’s Finance Minister Vincent Van Petegem said that the new tariffs, set on May 30, are aimed at virtually stopping grain imports from Russia and Belarus to the EU. Thus, these measures will prevent the destabilization of the EU grain market, stop Russian exports of misappropriated grain produced in Ukraine, and prevent Russia from using the proceeds from exports to the EU to finance its aggressive war against Ukraine.

The measures reportedly apply to goods originating in, or exported directly or indirectly from, the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to the EU. They will not affect transit through the EU from both countries to other third countries.

Tags: Russia, grain, EU, oilseeds, pea, restrictions