EU to raise Belarus, Russia grain import tariffs in a month

May 30, Pozirk. The Council of the European Union has backed the European Commission’s March 22 proposal and decided to raise tariffs on imports of certain agricultural products from Russia and Belarus.

The European Commission said on its website that “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 EU executive body said.

Belarus’ foreign ministry spokesman condemned the move as a “blow to global food security.” Anatol Hłaz added that the tariffs will push up food prices for EU consumers.

“Anyway, both we and Russia will easily survive. Our countries not only provide food security for their citizens, but in fact take a responsible approach to global food security,” he said.

The EU argued that “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 is “a 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,” the announcement reads.

The regulation will take effect from July 1.