European Parliament Approves Increased Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Agricultural Products
The new tariffs aim to reduce EU reliance on imports from Russia and Belarus amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
On Thursday, the European Parliament voted to approve a significant increase in tariffs on various agricultural goods and fertilizers imported from Russia and Belarus.
This legislative action is part of the EU’s ongoing measures to diminish dependency on imports from these two nations, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The proposal, which received support from 411 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), outlines a 50% increase in tariffs on certain agricultural products that had previously not been subjected to additional duties.
The specific products affected include sugar, vinegar, flour, and animal feed.
In addition to the tariffs on agricultural goods, a 6.5% tariff on fertilizers imported from these regions will be imposed, with further duties projected to be between €40 and €45 per tonne during the 2025-2026 period, eventually rising to €430 per tonne by 2028.
The European Commission has identified the revenue generated from these imports as a direct contributor to the ongoing war effort by Russia against Ukraine.
The new measures are intended to substantially decrease the volume of agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus, regardless of whether the products are exported directly or indirectly from these nations.
As part of this legislation, the Commission will be tasked with monitoring potential price increases and assessing any consequent impacts on the internal market and EU agricultural sector, with provisions to mitigate adverse outcomes if necessary.
Inese Vaidere, the standing rapporteur for Russia within Parliament, emphasized the crucial aim of preventing Russia from utilizing the EU market to fund its military operations.
She highlighted the surprising continuation of significant imports into the EU three years following the start of the full-scale conflict.
The regulation received opposition from 100 MEPs, with 78 choosing to abstain from voting.
Once formal approval is given by the Council of the EU and the regulation is published in the Official Journal, the new tariffs will be enacted.
Other agricultural products, as detailed in Annex I of the proposal, will be subject to the new regulations four weeks after the legislation comes into effect.
In a related socio-economic context, Ukraine is currently navigating the end of a duty-free trade regime with the EU, which has provided it significant economic relief since the onset of conflict.
This arrangement, due to expire on June 5, has allowed uninterrupted access for Ukrainian agricultural goods into EU markets.
Following this transition, quotas established prior to the war will be reinstated, affecting Ukraine's export revenues and economic forecasts substantially.
Ukrainian officials argue that these new tariffs, if reintroduced without adequate replacement measures, could severely impact the country's economy, particularly as it faces ongoing military challenges.
The EU's actions are being closely watched by Ukrainian lawmakers, who caution that the withdrawal of trade privileges could undermine faith in EU support.
This legislative action is part of the EU’s ongoing measures to diminish dependency on imports from these two nations, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The proposal, which received support from 411 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), outlines a 50% increase in tariffs on certain agricultural products that had previously not been subjected to additional duties.
The specific products affected include sugar, vinegar, flour, and animal feed.
In addition to the tariffs on agricultural goods, a 6.5% tariff on fertilizers imported from these regions will be imposed, with further duties projected to be between €40 and €45 per tonne during the 2025-2026 period, eventually rising to €430 per tonne by 2028.
The European Commission has identified the revenue generated from these imports as a direct contributor to the ongoing war effort by Russia against Ukraine.
The new measures are intended to substantially decrease the volume of agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus, regardless of whether the products are exported directly or indirectly from these nations.
As part of this legislation, the Commission will be tasked with monitoring potential price increases and assessing any consequent impacts on the internal market and EU agricultural sector, with provisions to mitigate adverse outcomes if necessary.
Inese Vaidere, the standing rapporteur for Russia within Parliament, emphasized the crucial aim of preventing Russia from utilizing the EU market to fund its military operations.
She highlighted the surprising continuation of significant imports into the EU three years following the start of the full-scale conflict.
The regulation received opposition from 100 MEPs, with 78 choosing to abstain from voting.
Once formal approval is given by the Council of the EU and the regulation is published in the Official Journal, the new tariffs will be enacted.
Other agricultural products, as detailed in Annex I of the proposal, will be subject to the new regulations four weeks after the legislation comes into effect.
In a related socio-economic context, Ukraine is currently navigating the end of a duty-free trade regime with the EU, which has provided it significant economic relief since the onset of conflict.
This arrangement, due to expire on June 5, has allowed uninterrupted access for Ukrainian agricultural goods into EU markets.
Following this transition, quotas established prior to the war will be reinstated, affecting Ukraine's export revenues and economic forecasts substantially.
Ukrainian officials argue that these new tariffs, if reintroduced without adequate replacement measures, could severely impact the country's economy, particularly as it faces ongoing military challenges.
The EU's actions are being closely watched by Ukrainian lawmakers, who caution that the withdrawal of trade privileges could undermine faith in EU support.
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