The Council of the EU on June 12 approved fresh tariffs on fertilizers and remaining agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus, aiming to reduce Russian export revenues.

The measures target those goods that have not yet been subject to additional customs duties and will enter into force on July 1. The tariffs on fertilizers will increase gradually over the next three years.

The step comes as the EU readies additional sanctions against Russia as it continues to wage its all-out war against Ukraine.

"Polish Presidency motto is 'Security, Europe!' and these measures increase our economic security by reducing dependencies from Russia," said Michal Baranowski, the trade undersecretary at the Polish Economy Ministry.

"We are further reducing Russia’s export revenues and therefore its ability to finance its brutal war. This is united Europe at its best," he said in a statement.

The new tariffs will apply to goods that made up around 15% of all agricultural imports from Russia in 2023. Fertilizer tariffs will focus on certain nitrogen-based products, the Council said in a statement.

Russian fertilizers accounted for more than a quarter of all of the EU's imports in this sector in 2023, worth almost $1.5 billion.

Apart from stifling Russia's trade revenue, the step also aims to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian and Belarusian goods, protect European farmers, and diversify the supply.

The EU adopted higher tariffs on cereals, oilseeds, and some other products from Russia and Belarus in May 2024. Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed imposing similar measures on all remaining agricultural products from the two countries.

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The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 3 to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, raising duties from 25% to 50%, the White House announced.

Trump's new order builds on a Feb. 10 executive action that imposed a flat 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports. Steel production is one of Ukraine's core industrial sectors and its second-largest source of foreign currency after agriculture.

The White House cited the earlier rate's failure to "develop and maintain the rates of capacity production utilization that are necessary for the industries' sustained health and for projected national defense needs."

Trump defended the new duties as essential to national security, claiming they will "reduce or eliminate the threat posed by imports" and ensure self-sufficiency in strategic industries.

Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said earlier this year that the share of Ukrainian steel in the U.S. market remains small and poses no threat to domestic U.S. producers.

However, tariffs further jeopardize Ukraine's key metallurgical exports, particularly ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Interpipe, which are already suffering due to the war.

Ukraine's metallurgical products make up 57.9% of Ukraine's exports to the U.S., or in dollar amounts, $503 million out of $869 million, according to Svyrydenko. It is unclear what time frame those figures represent.

The U.K. is the only exception to the new tariffs, which will remain at the 25% level for British imports, according to Bloomberg.

Trump defended the tariffs as a way to simplify duties on metals and hinted at retaliatory measures against countries imposing tariffs on American goods.

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US Senators Lindsey Graham (R–SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D–CT) met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this week to reaffirm bipartisan support for Ukraine and promote a Senate bill proposing significant new sanctions on Russia.

The senators, known for their strong backing of Ukraine, are co-authors of a bipartisan bill that would introduce major new sanctions on Russia and impose 500% tariffs on countries continuing to import Russian oil, gas, and other critical resources.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for their efforts, stating, “We have a shared understanding that Russia is making a mockery of diplomacy—pretending to negotiate while preparing new offensives and rejecting all ceasefire proposals.”

Senator Blumenthal emphasized the bill’s intent to send a strong message to buyers of Russian energy: “The Senate’s response will be clear—500% tariffs on anyone buying Russian oil, gas, or petrochemicals. That includes China and India, which currently buy most of these exports.”

Senator Graham added that the Senate could begin reviewing the bill next week, highlighting its broad support with backing from 82 US senators.

Kyiv pushes for stronger global pressure ahead of talks

The visit comes as Ukraine and Russia prepare for a new round of peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul. While Moscow has proposed the meeting, Ukraine has not confirmed its attendance and is demanding that Russia publish its proposed peace terms in advance.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that Moscow continues to use diplomatic platforms to delay rather than negotiate, and said Kyiv would not attend “on blind terms.” The last round of talks, held in mid-May, led to a major prisoner exchange but little progress toward a lasting ceasefire.

International observers are watching closely, as Kyiv insists that without serious Russian concessions, negotiations will remain superficial.

A U.S. federal court overturned on May 28 President Donald Trump's tariffs on dozens of countries, including those affecting trade with Ukraine, according to the U.S. Court of International Trade's ruling.

Trump announced a new sweeping tariff policy on April 2 as part of what he called "Liberation Day," framing the tariff regime as a bid to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and fight back against foreign exploitation.

Ukraine was hit with a 10% blanket tariff on its exports, lower than the 20% imposed on the European Union. Increased rates targeted countries where the U.S. has the largest trade deficits, notably China.

Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and Cuba were not included.

The court ruled that the federal law allowing the president to impose tariffs, embargoes, and sanctions during national emergencies "does not authorize the president to impose unbounded tariffs."

The ruling cited the U.S. Constitution, saying that it grants Congress sole authority over international trade, which is not superseded by the president’s emergency economic powers.

The court struck down the 10% tariffs applied to all U.S. trading partners to address the trade deficit, along with Trump’s proposed "reciprocal" tariffs of 20–50% on over 60 countries. This move means that the court would also block tariffs on trade with Ukraine.

Additionally, the court overturned Trump’s executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and a 20% tariff on Chinese goods.

A 10% blanket tariff on its exports was still a setback for a country at war. Kyiv's metallurgy sector, a major source of Ukrainian exports to the U.S., was already impacted by a 25% tariff imposed in March.

In 2023, Ukrainian exports to the U.S. totaled just $874 million, while imports from the U.S. reached $3.4 billion. The overall trade volume has declined in recent years, but the tariffs could deepen the imbalance, especially if they trigger broader protectionist measures globally.

Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's Economy Minister, called the U.S. tariffs announced in early April "difficult, but not critical," saying Kyiv remained focused on long-term economic resilience and international cooperation.

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The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The EU’s move to reinstate tariff quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports from 6 June 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Vitalii Koval, who warned the decision could cost the country between €2.8 billion and €3.5 billion in 2025 alone and undermine efforts to plug the country into the bloc’s single market, Euroactiv reports.

The reintroduction of pre-2022 trade restrictions comes after EU member states, particularly those with large farming sectors, pushed for the change. The move cancels the full trade liberalization granted to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Minister warns of “moral losses” and economic harm

Speaking at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels on Monday, Koval described the EU’s decision not only as an economic setback but a blow to public morale in Ukraine.

“What about the moral losses? This is not calculated in billions, but millions of Ukrainian citizens supporting integration into the EU,” he said.

Koval noted that agriculture has become Ukraine’s key economic pillar following the devastation of its other major sectors, including chemicals and steel. With farming now contributing 17% of Ukraine’s GDP, he emphasized the weight of the EU’s decision on the country’s overall recovery.

Poland welcomes decision

Poland’s Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski celebrated the rollback of liberalized trade with Ukraine, calling it a political win ahead of national elections scheduled for Sunday. Speaking on the sidelines of the AGRIFISH meeting, Siekierski said the move would help address the concerns of Polish farmers, who have been protesting over Ukrainian imports in recent years.

Future trade framework in the works

Koval said Ukraine’s goal remains to develop a long-term trade framework with the EU by the end of July. He framed the Monday visit to Brussels as an effort to counter negative narratives about Ukrainian exports, saying his job was to confront “myths” about disruptions caused by Ukraine’s products.