The European Commission wants to impose tariffs on the import of Russian grain. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this late on Thursday evening after talks between EU heads of state and government at the Brussels summit.
Details of the decision are to be known on Friday.
Brussels has long resisted pressure from Poland and the Baltic states to restrict agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus, arguing that such a move could disrupt global food markets and harm developing countries.
The situation on world markets has changed as Ukraine exports more and more grain to markets via the Black Sea and global grain prices have fallen.
The Financial Times previously reported that the tariff could be set at the maximum level allowed under World Trade Organization rules.
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Donald Tusk that she was “assessing the possibility of introducing restrictions on the import of agricultural products from Russia.”
“FT” indicates that the EU produces over 300 million tons of cereals and oilseeds annually and is a net exporter of the former, so it does not need imports from Russia and Belarus.
