Europe will hit Russian grain with tariffs so Moscow can’t use exports to wreak havoc on the EU market
Fortune EuropeMar 22
EU Proposes Steep Tariffs on Russian Grain Imports
The Facts
European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the EU plans to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus to prevent the Kremlin from destabilizing its market.
The proposal, which must be approved by a majority vote of the EU member states, would apply to cereals, oilseeds, and derived products exported from Russia and Belarus to the bloc's 27 countries.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
The EU continues to take a strong stand against Russia, and the latest tariff proposal benefits the EU and its allies on multiple fronts. Russia is trying to use cheap grain to disturb the European market, and it’s trying to benefit from record-high food prices. In addition to stopping Russia's exploitative tactics, the EU's tariffs will also reduce revenue for Moscow's war machine as it continues to rampage through Ukraine. The Kremlin will continue to face penalties from the EU as long as it continues its unjust war and destabilization campaign.
Pro-Russia narrative
The EU's plan to impose tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products will only harm European consumers, and the hollow efforts will have little to no impact on Russia’s economy. For more than two years, the EU and other Western regimes have tried their best to hurt Russia's finances. However, citizens of their own countries are the only ones harmed by these sanctions and tariffs. The EU would be smart to conduct trade with Russia and allow its people to feed their families without spending their entire paychecks.
Nerd narrative
There's a 27% chance that Ukraine will join the EU before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.