The EU has imposed new tariffs applicable on 1 July 2025 on the remaining agricultural products and certain fertilisers (nitrogen-based products) from Russia and Belarus that were not yet subject to extra customs duties.
Products classified under codes of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2025/1227 (around thirty chapters are affected) that are imported into the Union and that originate in or have been exported directly or indirectly from Russia or Belarus, shall be subject to an ad valorem customs duty of 50 %, to be applied in addition to the applicable Common Customs Tariff rate.
Some of the products affected by these new tariff duties are:
- Live animals, meat, dairy produce, birds’ eggs, natural honey, edible products of animal origin
- Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
- Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (except peas and chickpeas) and edible fruits and nuts, peel of citrus fruit or melons
- Coffee, tea, maté and spices
- Animal fats and oils
- Sugar and sugar confectionery
- Cocoa and cocoa preparations
- Preparations of cereals and vegetables, flour, starch or milk and pastry products
- Preparations for animal feeding
- Tobacco
- Raw textiles
The Regulation also establishes a tariff of 6.5% on fertilizers included in Annex II imported from Russia and Belarus, in addition to a levy of between 40 and 45 euros per ton for the period 2025-2026 that will increase gradually, over a transitional period of three years, rising to €430 per ton in 2028.
In this case, the products affected are:
Products under HS code 3102 – Mineral or chemical fertilizers, nitrogenous:
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 40 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 60 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 80 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 315 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028;
Products under HS codes 3105 20, 3105 30, 3105 40, 3105 51, 3105 59 and 3105 90:
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 45 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 70 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 95 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2027 until 30 June 2028;
- 6,5 % ad valorem + 430 EUR/tonne from 1 July 2028.
The EU Commission will monitor price increases and any possible damage to the internal market or the EU agriculture sector and will take action to mitigate the impact.
The aim of these new tariffs is not only to weaken Russia's war economy, as revenues from the sale of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers are directly contributing to the war against Ukraine, but also to help reduce the EU's dependence on Russia and Belarus, and boost diversification and domestic production.