BRUSSELS: The European Union is preparing to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus to placate farmers and some member states, a UK-based media outlet reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the plans.
European Commission is expected to impose duty of 95 euros ($103.26) per ton on cereals imported from Russia and Belarus, as per the Financial Times. Additionally, tariffs of 50 percent are expected to be applied to oil seeds and their by-products.
This reported action coincides with calls from farmers across the European Union for revisions to the constraints imposed on them under the bloc’s Green Deal initiative aimed at combating climate change. Furthermore, there are demands for the reinstatement of customs duties on agricultural imports from Ukraine, which were waived following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Farmers from neighbouring EU member states such as Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia have voiced concerns that these measures undercut their prices. Notably, Ukraine, though a significant agricultural producer, is not part of the 27-member EU.
Similar to several other European countries, Poland has witnessed protests in recent weeks, with farmers expressing discontent over EU environmental regulations.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also advocated for an EU-wide ban on the importation of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus.
