The EU is preparing new anti-Russian measures. As reported by European media, this was stated by the Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, after a meeting of EU Trade Ministers.
The duties will apply to agricultural products and nitrogen fertilizers. Later, perhaps, for a series of industrial products. This is expected to avoid a situation where EU countries oppose new anti-Russian measures, but in the case of sanctions unanimity is necessary, which is increasingly difficult to achieve. In the tariff situation, the consent of most countries is sufficient.
Poland and the Baltic countries have already sent a letter to Dombrovskis on this matter. The document was seen and described by a Polish Radio correspondent. Beata Plomecka. The letter mentions three groups of fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Hungary currently holds the EU presidency and a move on this issue is unlikely before the end of the year. However, starting early next year Poland will take over the presidency.
Fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus are increasing, as Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia underline in their letter.
“We consider the situation scandalous that the import of fertilizers not only did not remain at the same level, but increased and continues to do so,” – says the Deputy Minister of European Affairs of the Office of the Prime Minister of Poland, Ignacy Niemczycki.
For his part, an analyst from the Polish National Research Institute for Agricultural and Food Economics Arkadiusz Zalewski It is estimated that during the three quarters of this year, the export of nitrogen fertilizers from Russia to Poland reached a record level: only about 530 thousand tons.
