Modification of customs duties applicable to imports of certain goods originating in or exported directly or indirectly from Russia and Belarus

PURPOSE: to adopt new customs duties on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and fertilisers in order to prevent increased economic dependence of the Union on imports of the products concerned from Russia and Belarus.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2025/1227 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the modification of customs duties applicable to imports of certain goods originating in or exported from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

CONTENT: this Regulation imposes new customs duties on the remaining agricultural products and certain fertilisers from Russia and Belarus that were not already subject to additional customs duties. The objective is to ensure that the products concerned originating in or exported, directly or indirectly, from Russia and Belarus do not disturb the Union market for the goods concerned, and to reduce imports into the Union of the goods concerned from those countries in response to concerns that such imports could negatively affect the Union’s internal market and impair the Union’s food security.

The implementation of these tariffs will be closely monitored to ensure that the EU fertiliser industry and farmers are protected. The tariff increases on fertilisers will take place gradually, over a transition period of three years.

In concrete terms, the Regulation provides for:

- a 50% increase in customs duties on agricultural products originating in Russia and Belarus that were not yet subject to additional duties;

- the introduction, for the years 2025-2026, of a customs duty of 6.5% on nitrogen fertilisers imported from Russia and Belarus, to which would be added a tax of between EUR 40 and 45 per tonne depending on the type of fertiliser. These duties will reach EUR 315 or EUR 430 per tonne by 2028.

In addition to weakening Russia’s war economy, the new tariffs will help reduce the EU's dependence on Russia and Belarus, and will boost diversification and domestic production. They will allow for the diversification of supply, ensuring a stable fertiliser supply and, crucially, maintaining affordability for EU farmers.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21.6.2025 and 20.7.2025.