Belarus

Following Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus.

EU restrictive measures in response to the crisis in Ukraine

The EU has not yet ratified the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement concluded with Belarus in 1995, due to Belarus' lack of commitment to democracy, and political and civil rights.

The bilateral trade and economic relations therefore remain covered by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement concluded by the European Community with the Soviet Union in 1989, and subsequently endorsed by Belarus.

Belarus applied for membership of the WTO in 1993. Its accession process is still ongoing, but has been suspended following Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

In June 2007 the EU withdrew its trade preferences to Belarus under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, in response to Belarus' violations of the core principles of the International Labour Organisation.

Belarus’ exports to the EU are therefore subject to import tariffs at the standard non-preferential rate. Once Belarus has shown that it respects basic trade union rights, the EU is ready to reverse its decision.

A Dialogue on Trade was established in October 2016, in order to facilitate exchanges on trade-related matters at experts’ level. The dialogue took place twice a year in July and December up to July 2020. Since then, the dialogue has been suspended, due to the significant deterioration in the human rights, democracy and rule of law situation in Belarus in the run-up, conduct and aftermath of the 9 August 2020 presidential elections, which the EU declared neither free nor fair.

Trade picture

• In 2024, the EU was Belarus' second-biggest trade partner, representing 10.5% of the country's overall trade in goods. Russia was Belarus' biggest trading partner, with 65.7% of  Belarus' international trade. Trade with Belarus represented 0.2% of the EU’s overall trade with the world. Total EU trade with Belarus reached €8.1 billion in 2024, a decrease of 35% compared to 2021. 
• In 2024, the EU exported to Belarus goods worth €6.8 billion. The EU’s exports mainly comprise machinery and transport goods (€2.7 billion), chemicals (€1.7 billion), and food and raw materials (€1.1 billion). 
• The EU imported from Belarus €1.3 billion worth of goods in 2024. The EU mainly imported food and raw materials (€302 million), manufactured products such as chemicals (€300 million), or machinery and transport equipment (€160 million). 
• The EU exported €2 billion worth of services to Belarus in 2023, while Belarus exported €700 million worth of services to the EU (a 42% decrease compared to 2022). 
• The EU’s FDI stock in Belarus decreased to €3.4 billion in 2023 from €3.7 billion in 2022.  

The EU and Belarus

Although trade between the EU and Belarus has grown in recent years, the EU has suspended moves towards closer economic partnership with Belarus until political and civil conditions improve in Belarus.

The EU has also introduced an Outward Processing Trade regime for Belarus. This regime provides for additional import quota amounts for textiles and clothing manufacturers within the European Union so they can produce garments in Belarus that will return to the EU after processing.

Belarus trade restrictions

In addition to the sanctions imposed against Belarus, including both import and export restrictions, since 2010 the EU has imposed unilateral import quotas for Belarus covering trade in textile and clothing products. The unilateral quotas replaced the EU-Belarus textile agreement that Belarus no longer wanted to renew after joining the Customs Union with Russia and Kazakhstan.

Committees and Dialogues

All bilateral dialogue with Belarus is currently suspended.

Technical committee meetings - agendas and reports

Trading with Belarus

• Trade with Belarus is currently heavily restricted by EU sanctions (see news below; 18 March 2022)
• Importing into the EU from Belarus
  • EU trade defence measures on imports from Belarus
• Exporting from the EU to Belarus
  • Trade defence measures in force in Belarus
• Trade relations are part of the EU's overall political and economic relations with Belarus