Call for a “Trade for Security” approach
Seven EU countries — Germany, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland — have proposed a plan to phase out trade with Russia and Belarus through new sectoral tariffs. The initiative, presented in a policy paper titled “Trade for Security” and cited by Radio Svoboda, warns that the European Union still imported €35 billion worth of goods from Russia in 2024, despite three years of full-scale war in Ukraine. The document argues that such trade undermines European security and sustains the Kremlin’s war economy.
Energy, metals, and chemicals remain key imports
According to the report, EU purchases from Russia were dominated by oil and gas, which made up almost two-thirds of total imports. Iron and steel, fertilizers, nickel, aluminum, and inorganic chemicals followed. Belarus also remains a major supplier of fertilizers and chemical products, which is why the proposed tariffs would apply to Minsk as well. The document highlights the risk that European industries face from subsidized Russian competitors exempt from carbon emission taxes.
Three priority categories for new tariffs
The paper identifies three sectors where tariffs could have the greatest effect:
- Iron and steel: imposing duties on Russian slabs currently exempt from sanctions until 2028 to protect EU steelmakers from dumping.
- Inorganic chemicals: replacing Russian ammonia and calcium phosphate imports with supplies from the US, Canada, Israel, and Jordan; the EU has already agreed to cut import tariffs on these goods from the US to zero.
- Potash fertilizers: reducing or abolishing import quotas for Russian and Belarusian suppliers, whose access to the EU market remains largely unrestricted.
Economic security and political resolve
The authors stress that ongoing imports not only provide Russia with major revenue but also create strategic vulnerabilities for Europe. The initiative underlines that while 19 sanctions packages are in force, critical sectors such as energy, metals, and fertilizers still escape restrictions. The proposed tariffs would help limit the aggressors’ financial flows and stimulate internal EU production. Crucially, tariffs — unlike sanctions — can be approved by qualified majority rather than unanimous consent, offering a practical way to overcome political resistance within the bloc.
Towards a new European trade doctrine
Although “Trade for Security” is a non-binding paper, it reflects a shift in EU thinking: trade policy as a tool of collective defense. Reducing dependency on Russia and Belarus is presented not only as a moral obligation but as a strategic necessity to safeguard Europe’s autonomy and strengthen its industrial base. The proposal calls on the European Commission to prepare concrete tariff measures as soon as possible to align economic policy with the Union’s broader security goals.
