The European Commission proposed on Friday to increase customs duties on imports to the EU of cereals, oilseeds and cereal products from Russia and Belarus, including wheat, corn and sunflower. These duties are intended to be high enough to effectively limit the import of these goods into the EU.
The proposal does not apply to the transit of cereals, oilseeds and cereal products from Russia and Belarus to third countries.
– We propose imposing tariffs on Russian imports to mitigate the growing risk to our markets and our farmers. (…) We maintain our commitment to maintaining global food security, especially for developing countries. We strike the right balance between supporting our economy and farming communities. At the same time, we maintain our unwavering support for Ukraine, said the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The new tariffs are intended to be high enough to discourage current imports. Depending on the specific product, they will increase either to EUR 95 per tonne or to an ad valorem duty of 50%.
In 2023, Russia exported 4.2 million tonnes of cereals, oilseeds and related products worth EUR 1.3 billion to the EU. Belarus, in turn, 610 thousand. tons worth EUR 246 million.
The proposal will now be considered by the Council of the European Union. Once adopted by the Council, the tariffs will enter into force immediately.
