Thu May 22 12:24:14 UTC 2025: ## EU Parliament Approves Tariffs on Russian, Belarusian Fertilizers and Farm Produce

**Brussels, Belgium** – The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday to impose tariffs on fertilizer and select agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus. The controversial measure, backed by a 411-100 vote, aims to reduce the EU’s dependence on these countries, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine.

The tariffs will be implemented gradually, starting in July, and are designed to escalate over a three-year period, rendering imports commercially unviable by 2028. For fertilizers, tariffs will rise from 6.5% to the equivalent of around 100% by 2028. An additional 50% duty will be applied to certain farm produce imports including meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

While prohibitive tariffs were already in place for some Russian and Belarusian goods, these new measures target the 15% of agricultural imports that remained unaffected, and more precisely certain fertilizers

EU lawmaker Inese Vaidere, a key proponent of the tariffs, stated the move was essential to cut off funding for the “Russian war machine” and reduce European farmers’ reliance on Russian fertilizers.

Russia has responded sharply, claiming the tariffs will drive up fertilizer prices within the EU. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserted that demand for Russian nitrogen fertilizers remains strong in other markets, emphasizing their high quality.

The move has sparked concern among European farmers. Copa-Cogeca, a leading pan-European farmers’ group, warned that the tariffs could be “potentially devastating” for the agriculture sector, as Russian fertilizers are currently the most competitively priced due to established logistics. Some farmers, like Amaury Poncelet from Belgium, feel the EU is unfairly targeting them, accusing the bloc of treating them “like pawns who don’t matter.”

The European Commission has defended the tariffs, arguing they will support domestic fertilizer production and has proposed removing duties on imports from other regions to mitigate potential price increases. Other measures are planned to reduce the economic pressure on farmers.

While the European Parliament has approved the bill, it still requires formal approval from member states, who have already signaled their support. The situation remains dynamic, with potential impacts on both the EU agricultural sector and international trade relations.

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