European farmers are sounding the alarm as the European Parliament votes this month on a contentious proposal to impose extraordinary duties of up to 100% on fertiliser imports from Russia and Belarus. The European Commission’s proposal aims to shield the EU’s fertiliser industry, reduce reliance on Russian supplies and deprive Russia of a revenue source fueling its war machine.
Yet the measure risks plunging an already strained agricultural sector into deeper crisis, with fertiliser prices potentially surging by 20% to 100% from current levels. In 2024, Russia accounted for roughly one quarter of the EU’s imported fertilisers, valued at €2 billion.
The proposed tariffs, endorsed by the Committee of Permanent Representatives without significant revisions and analysis, could add billions of euros in costs for farmers already grappling with labour shortages, soaring energy prices and climate change.
For many, this could be the tipping point toward bankruptcy.
Farmers’ fury
The decision has sparked a backlash from the agricultural community. Copa-Cogeca, the influential voice of EU farmers and cooperatives, alongside associations from France, Italy and Spain, has condemned the move as ignoring the “concerns and proposals of agriculture.”
Critics also point to a flawed consultation process. Copa-Cogeca has alleged that the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee sidelined input from major agricultural producers like France, Germany, Italy and Spain, instead prioritising Latvia — a country that ranks 14th in the EU for agricultural output and contributed just 1.5% of the 2024 harvest.
Meanwhile, hearings gave significant airtime to fertiliser giants like Yara and Fertilizers Europe, who appear to be the primary beneficiaries of the proposed tariff hike. The Commission has bypassed a formal impact assessment, opting instead for a rapid rollout by July, which Copa-Cogeca cautioned was prioritising speed over due diligence.
Without a safety net, the duties could trigger a cascade of consequences: higher production costs, increased food prices for consumers and widespread farm closures, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. Jobs in the sector hang in the balance.
Farmers are not standing idle. Associations are pressing for urgent countermeasures, including financial compensation and a clear mechanism to suspend the tariffs if fertiliser prices spike uncontrollably. So far, the Commission has offered no concrete solutions to cushion the blow, except a suggestion to postpone the tariffs for one year.
With the vote looming, the EU faces a critical choice: bolster its fertiliser industry or safeguard its farmers and food security. For a sector already on the edge, the outcome could redefine the European agricultural landscape — and citizens’ dining tables — for years to come.
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