“In the end, the EU will receive nitrogen fertilizers at a higher price and of poorer quality, because our fertilizers, including nitrogen fertilizers, are of the highest quality,” the spokesman emphasized at his daily press conference.

Peskov noted that demand for nitrogen fertilizers is equally high worldwide, so markets in those other regions will offset the European tariffs. “Well, the Europeans will continue, as always, shooting themselves in the foot,” he stated.

On May 15th, a European Parliament committee supported a proposal to increase import duties on a wide range of agricultural products and some types of fertilizers from or exported to Russia and Belarus.

In the case of Russian fertilizers, the tariff increase is expected to be gradual, over several years. These tariffs will effectively become barrier duties. The final vote was held on May 22nd and was approved by MEPs.

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