Hungary pressing EU to lift tariffs on fertilizers from Belarus – reports

March 17, Pozirk. Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy proposed a temporary reduction of tariffs on Belarusian and Russian fertilizers to 0 percent, citing the war in Iran as a key factor disrupting global fertilizer markets, Politico reports.
Hungary could face reduced crop yields if access to cheaper fertilizer imports remains restricted, the minister argued in a letter to Christophe Hansen and Maroš Šefčovič, European commissioners for agriculture and food and trade and economic security, respectively. Hungary produces only nitrogen fertilizers and relies on imports of phosphorus and potash, Nagy noted.
The official described Belarus as one of the world’s leading producers of phosphorus- and potassium- based fertilizers and Hungary’s most important supplier of these goods.
The EU’s current duties on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus have been in force since July 2025, including 6.5-percent tariffs on fertilizer imports as well as duties of between €40 and €45 per ton for the 2025-2026 period. These tariffs were projected to rise to €430 per ton by 2028.
Revenues from the sale of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers in the EU are considered to directly contribute to financing Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The EU is punishing its own producers and consumers by increasing import duties on Belarusian agricultural products, Rusłan Varankoŭ, the Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman, said last year, commenting on new tariffs.
Hungary has consistently opposed the tightening of sanctions against Belarus and Russia. Budapest has also been blocking the 20th package of sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
EU tariffs on agricultural imports from Belarus, Russia take effect on July 1
- Politics, SecurityLatvia records irregular crossings via Belarus for 111 consecutive daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyKGB brands Belarusian marketplace, Ukrainian elite unit as “extremist” groupsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SportFIBA upholds suspension of Belarus’ basketball teams – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: 5,000 Uzbek workers to arrive in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja grateful to Macron and France for supporting free BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNine countries join EU sanctions on Belarus’ IzovacThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Economy
- EconomyCentral bank’s net assets decrease in MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarusian companies’ debts rise by nearly 15 percent in a yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCash in circulation rises by 2.9 percent in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsBelarusian ruler’s office remains antagonistic toward French leaders despite high-level contactsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsLaw enforcers harass exiled writer Filipienka over his studies at EHUThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCatholic priest jailed for 15 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights groups identify seven new political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+


