European Commission prepared proposals to increase grain tariffs from Russia and Belarus: Von der Leyen

22 March, 2024 20:20

The European Commission is planning to impose tariffs on imports of grain from Russia and Belarus in an attempt to prevent the two countries from distorting EU markets and placate farmers who have protested for months over cheap imports, Al Jazeera reports.

The tariffs are also designed to limit Russia’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine and sell grain stolen from Ukraine, the commission said.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the move would prevent Russia from destabilising the European Union market with its exports as leaders from the 27-nation bloc prepared to close out a two-day summit on Friday.

“We propose the imposition of tariffs on these Russian imports to mitigate the growing risk to our markets and our farmers,” von der Leyen said.

“They will reduce Russia’s capacity to exploit the EU for the benefit of its war machine. And we maintain our commitment to preserving global food security, especially for developing countries.”

The Kremlin on Friday warned the EU against imposing duties on its grain exports.

“Consumers in Europe would definitely suffer,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the proposal and called it “another clear example of unfair competition”.

Russia has many alternative export markets other than the EU for its grain, he added.

Imports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus are just about 1 percent of the overall size of the EU market, with domestic suppliers providing the bulk.

But with angry farmers already worried by the increase of cheap Ukrainian imports, the EU fears Russia will be encouraged to take advantage of the tense situation to further destabilise the bloc.