Why Has Russian Wheat Been Entering The EU Duty-free?

The EU had spared Russian grain from punitive measures to avoid the risk of destabilising world trade and hurting African and Asian countries dependent it. (Credit: AFP)

Since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia's grain exports have not only been spared by European Union sanctions, but even stayed free of tariffs -- a seeming anomaly the bloc has now agreed to rectify.

There are many reasons for the current situation, including international trade rules, agricultural exemptions, and concerns over food security.