Sweden has initiated discussions in the EU to introduce tariffs on Russian goods that are not subject to European sanctions. The revenue may be used to support Ukraine, reports the Financial Times.
At the initiative of Sweden, EU trade ministers asked the European Commission to develop a plan to introduce duties on non-sanctioned Russian goods, such as food, nuclear fuel, and medicines.
The European Commission will be assessing and providing member states with options to move forward, European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis commented.
As Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Johan Forssell explained in a commentary to the Financial Times, the EU needs to cut Russia's revenues because they are used for the war against Ukraine. He called for broad duties on all this trade but admitted that in some areas it might be sensitive.
The revenue from those tariffs could be spent to help Ukraine win this war, Forssell added.
EU sanctions against Russia
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has already imposed 13 sanctions packages against Russia. The 14th package of anti-Russian sanctions is currently under development.
The EU Council recently approved duties on grains and oilseeds from Russia and Belarus to suppress such imports to the EU.