The EU is preparing to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus.
The European Union is preparing to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus in order to appease farmers and some member statesthe Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the Financial Times, the European Commission is expected to impose a duty of 95 euros per tonne on cereals from Russia and Belarus in the coming days. Duties of 50% would also be imposed on oilseeds and derived products.
The move comes as EU farmers call for changes to restrictions imposed on them by the European Green Deal to combat climate change, and the reimposition of customs duties on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine removed after the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Farmers in neighboring Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, all EU members, say the measure has lowered their prices.
“Not their place in Europe”
On Tuesday March 19, the Czech Minister of Agriculture, Marek Výborný, announced that Prague would propose to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain into the EU.
“Russian or Belarusian products have no place in Europe. I see no reason why Russian grain should be in Europe. I am convinced that no one should support an aggressor by buying grain from him. This is what I will defend within the EU” Marek Výborný told Czech public television.
Latvia has already introduced a unilateral temporary trade ban on Russian agricultural imports.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also called for a European ban on imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products. On March 7,The Polish Sejm adopted a resolution calling for sanctions on imports of these products.
In the meantime, the study “Seed of Disagreement: Analysis of Agrarian Protests” conducted by the independent Polish Institute of Public Finance (IPF) claims that the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to Poland is not the main cause of the economic problems of Polish farmers.
However, Polish farmers are preparing a new national strike with roadblocks on March 20.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on this EU proposal: “We have seen these reports. We need to analyze to what extent and when this will be implemented and whether it will actually be implemented. Then, of course, we will draw some conclusions.”
