On October 1, the Estonian government approved national sanctions prohibiting the transit of grain of Russian and Belarusian origin through the territory of the country. Thus, Tallinn intends to preemptively eliminate the possibility of turning Estonian ports into a new route for Russian grain exports.
“Russia is attacking Ukrainian ports and obstructing the flow of Ukrainian grain to the global market. It would be cynical to allow it to export its grain through our ports at the same time,” explained the decision by Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
At the same time, there is an important nuance: until now, the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through Estonia has been virtually non-existent. The ban is primarily preventive in nature. Russia is seeking alternative routes for grain exports after facing issues with transportation through the Black Sea, and Estonian authorities claim that there is already interest in using the country's ports.
The sanction applies to grain of commodity group CN 10 of Russian and Belarusian origin. It will take effect the day after the publication of the relevant amendments in the state gazette Riigi Teataja.
Tallinn is simultaneously coordinating actions with Latvia and Lithuania. The day before, Tsahkna was in Riga, where he stated that the cessation of Russian grain transit should be a joint step by the three Baltic states.
In the European Union, increased customs duties on grain and grain products from Russia and Belarus will take effect in 2024. However, they are primarily aimed at imports into the EU and do not, in themselves, exclude the transit of such cargoes through the territory of the European Union to third countries — this is precisely the gap that Estonia is now closing with a national sanction.
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