Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 22, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe EU Parliament has approved significant tariffs on Russian and Belarus fertilisers to safeguard food security and limit war funding, with tariffs rising to 100% over three years.
By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament voted on Thursday to impose prohibitive tariffs on fertilisers and certain farm produce from Russia and its ally Belarus to prevent a potential threat to EU food security and limit Russian funds for its war against Ukraine.
Tariffs for certain nitrogen-based fertilisers will rise over three years from 6.5% to an amount equivalent to about 100%, a level that would effectively halt trade. For the farm produce, an additional 50% duty will apply.
The tariff hikes are expected to take effect on July 1.
More than 70% of EU fertiliser consumption in 2023 was of the nitrogen-based product targeted, and Russia accounted for 25% of EU imports, worth about 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion).
Russian and Belarus grain was already hit with prohibitive tariffs last year. The new tariffs apply to the 15% of agriculture imports from Russia not previously subject to duties, worth 380 million euros. This includes meat, dairy produce, fruit and vegetables
The European Commission said these imports, particularly of fertilisers, made the EU vulnerable to potential coercive actions by Russia that could threaten EU food security.
EU imports from Belarus were more limited at 92 million euros for farm produce and 30 million euros for fertilisers in 2023.
The European Commission has said the tariffs will help support domestic production and allow for diversification of supply from elsewhere.
The change to a higher fertiliser tariff includes potential mitigation measures if EU farmers see substantial price increases.
The levies will not affect transit of Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports to third countries. The EU has so far avoided imposing sanctions on them so as not to disturb global supplies, particularly to developing countries.
The European Parliament approved the hikes by 411 votes to 100, with 78 abstentions.
($1 = 0.8835 euros)
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Bart Meijer)
The tariffs for certain nitrogen-based fertilizers will increase from 6.5% to nearly 100% over three years, effectively halting trade.
The tariff hikes are expected to take effect on July 1.
The European Commission stated that these imports made the EU vulnerable to coercive actions by Russia that could threaten EU food security.
In 2023, more than 70% of EU fertilizer consumption was of nitrogen-based products, with Russia accounting for 25% of EU imports, valued at about 1.3 billion euros.
The European Parliament approved the tariff increases with 411 votes in favor, 100 against, and 78 abstentions.
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