EU gives final approval to Russian fertiliser tariffs
BRUSSELS: EU countries on Thursday gave final approval to new tariffs on fertiliser imports from Russia, a move aimed at throttling Moscow's war effort in Ukraine that has upset some European farmers.
Justice ministers from the bloc's 27 nations signed off on the measure, which also puts a levy on additional farm products, during a meeting in Luxembourg.
"These measures increase our economic security by reducing dependencies from Russia," said Michal Baranowski, undersecretary of state for trade for Poland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.
"We are further reducing Russia's export revenues and therefore its ability to finance its brutal war. This is united Europe at its best."
The regulation will enter into force next month and also covers Russia's ally Belarus.
It targets nitrogen-based fertilisers, as well as all farm goods that had not yet been affected by sweeping tariffs that came into force last year.
The levies it imposes will increase gradually up to a point where they would make imports unviable in 2028. European farmer groups had opposed action on fertilisers fearing an increase in prices, with Russia still a major supplier. — AFP
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