Latvia plans to impose a 300% tariff on Russian and Belarusian grain

The Government of Latvia plans to impose a 300% tariff on grain shipments from Russia and Belarus and their handling. At the same time, the authorities intend to create a mechanism for detecting grain that Russia may have exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Prime Minister of Latvia Andris Kulbergs stated this after a meeting of the ruling coalition, reports the Latvian public broadcaster LSM.

The proposed measures are intended to make the use of Latvian transport and port infrastructure for Russian and Belarusian grain economically unprofitable. According to the head of government, the goal is not to generate additional revenue from such cargo, but to significantly restrict its transit.

Latvian authorities also intend to expand inspection capabilities for transit grain batches. In particular, plans include cooperation with Ukrainian representatives and laboratories to determine the origin of products and identify grain that may have been exported by Russia from the occupied Ukrainian territories.

Kulbergs said that according to information from the Ukrainian side, grain from territories seized by Russia may be mixed with Russian products and then exported to foreign markets.

Latvia expects to achieve a common position of the three Baltic States. The Prime Minister has already discussed this issue with the head of the Estonian government and intends to hold consultations with the Prime Minister of Lithuania.

“Russian grain should not use the region’s infrastructure,” — Kulbergs stated the government’s position.

The ruling parties of Latvia have agreed to prepare measures to restrict the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through the country. At the same time, the government intends to maintain priority access for Latvian agricultural producers to port and transport infrastructure for their own exports.

Separately, the National Alliance has prepared amendments to the legislation providing for an even stricter option — a complete ban on the transit of Russian grain through Latvian ports and other infrastructure.

Latvia already restricts the import of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus. The national ban initially covered grains, vegetables, fruits and a number of feed products, but later the authorities decided to significantly expand the list of products subject to restrictions.

The new decision is also related to changes in Russian export routes. According to LSM, Russian suppliers are increasingly considering the ports of the Baltic Sea and the infrastructure of the Baltic states as an alternative direction for grain exports.

Based on materials from: LSM, Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia