Seven EU Countries Call for Tariffs on Russian Goods

Seven member countries of the European Union have urged the European Commission to expand the list of Russian goods that will be subject to import tariffs. A corresponding letter with the initiative, dated November 4, was signed by representatives from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.

This is reported by AgroReview

Which Russian Goods May Be Subject to Tariffs

The appeal suggests introducing tariffs on a range of key categories of goods from Russia, including iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, and potassium fertilizers. According to data for 2024, the export of these products generated revenues of 5.4 billion euros for the Russian Federation, enabling the aggressor country to finance its war against Ukraine.

“This is part of our economic security, and we must reduce our dependence,” said a high-ranking EU diplomat from one of the countries anonymously to Politico.

Two representatives from other EU countries confirmed their support for this initiative. Reports indicate that in 2024, European companies purchased Russian goods worth 33 billion euros. Even without considering oil and gas, the import volumes amount to 11 billion euros, which includes iron, steel, nickel, fertilizers, aluminum, fish, and industrial machinery. Such supplies remain legal: some products are not subject to sanctions or have exceptions.

Positions of EU Countries and Prospects for New Tariffs

The introduction of tariffs is a contentious issue in the European Union. A majority vote is sufficient for their implementation, meaning individual countries cannot veto it, unlike sanctions, which require unanimous agreement from all EU states.

Germany, the largest economy in the EU, has supported the initiative of the eastern and northern members to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin’s military economy. As diplomats note, Berlin’s participation could be a decisive factor in garnering support for the proposal from other countries and the European Commission.

“It is very important that this time Germany has joined in,” said a high-ranking diplomat, adding that Berlin’s support “could possibly convince some members of the European Commission.”

However, some EU capitals oppose the introduction of tariffs, seeking to maintain a duty-free regime for their industrial interests. For example, Belgium and the Czech Republic have secured exemptions for certain categories of iron and steel, as Russian metallurgical enterprises are located in these countries, as well as in Denmark. Other countries believe that such measures should be regulated by sanctions policy rather than customs policy.

EU ambassadors have already discussed this issue and plan to bring it up for discussion among the trade ministers of the European Union at the next meeting scheduled for November 24. If the idea gains more support, the discussion may be extended to include U.S. Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has been invited to the meeting in Brussels.