Brussels, 30 May 2024
The EU Council today adopted a regulation that aims to levy prohibitive tariffs on grain products imported from Russia and Belarus. The regulation increases duties on cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus to a point that will in practice halt imports of these products.
The new tariffs set today aim to stop the imports of grain from Russia and Belarus into the EU in practice. These measures will therefore prevent the destabilisation of the EU’s grain market, halt Russian exports of illegally appropriated grain produced in the territories of Ukraine and prevent Russia from using revenues from exports to the EU to fund its war of aggression against Ukraine. This is yet another way in which the EU is showing steady support to Ukraine.
Vincent Van Peteghem, Belgian minister for finance
The regulation increases import tariffs for cereals, oilseeds and derived products as well as beet-pulp pellets and dried peas from the Russian Federation, as well as from the Republic of Belarus, for which, at present, importers pay no or low tariffs. In addition, those goods will be barred from access to the Union’s tariff rate quotas.
These measures concern products originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to the EU. They will not affect transit through the EU from both countries to other third countries.
Next steps
The regulation will be published in the EU’s Official Journal. The measures will enter into force on 1 July 2024.
Background
The EU’s imports of grain products from Russia have significantly increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
While the Russian Federation remains a relatively small supplier of those products to the EU market, it is a leading world-wide producer and exporter of those products.
Given its current volumes of exports to the world, the Russian Federation could reorient significant volumes of supplies of those products to the EU, causing a sudden inflow from its large existing stocks, thereby disrupting the EU market.
Moreover, there is evidence that the Russian Federation is currently illegally appropriating large volumes of such products in territories of Ukraine, which it illegally occupies, and routing them to its export markets as allegedly Russian products.
These measures will therefore prevent the EU market from being destabilised, halt Russian exports of illegally appropriated grain produced in the territories of Ukraine and prevent Russia from using revenues from exports to the EU to fund its war of aggression against Ukraine.
The Commission submitted its proposal to the Council on 22 March 2024.
The regulation modifies Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, in order to increase the customs duties applicable to imports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products that are currently classified under Chapters 7, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 23 of the Combined Nomenclature (CN), originating in or exported from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus.
Council regulation on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff
EU Commission: Increased EU tariffs on Russian and Belarusian products enter into force
The Council of the EU has today adopted a regulation to significantly increase tariffs on imports into the EU of certain products from Russia and Belarus.
This follows the European Commission proposal from 22 March. The measures are designed to suppress imports into the EU of cereals, oilseeds and derived products, as well as beet-pulp pellets and dried peas, while not affecting exports to third countries and preserving global food security. The increased tariffs also apply to Belarus in light of the country’s close political and economic ties to Russia.
The new tariffs are designed to prevent market destabilisation within the EU and protect the EU farming community, tackle the illegal exports of Ukrainian grain mislabelled as Russian, and cut off revenue streams that could fund Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The regulation comes in response to Russia’s role as a global grain exporter and its use of food exports as a geopolitical tool. The EU stands firmly with Ukraine and its people, and will continue to strongly support Ukraine’s economy, as well as its society, armed forces, and future reconstruction.
Following today’s Council adoption, the regulation implementing the tariffs will enter into force on 1 July.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, said:
“By imposing increased tariffs, we are taking decisive action to prevent our agricultural sector from being destabilised by Russian imports, while protecting Ukrainian exports from being mislabelled as Russian. We will maintain this support for as long as it takes. Our commitment to global food security also remains steadfast, ensuring that developing countries are not negatively affected by these measures.”
Source – EU Commission