European Union (E.U.) experts tasked with drawing up sanctions against Belarus following the forced landing of a flight and the subsequent arrest of a journalist and his girlfriend on May 23 have agreed to a ban on the European bloc importing potash after reaching a deal late on June 18, according to a Reuters report, citing the Austrian foreign ministry and three diplomats.
E.U. leaders meet on June 24 for a scheduled summit, but it is not clear if they will approve the deal reached by expert officials, according to the report.
The experts have also agreed to restrictions on E.U. purchases from Belarus of oil and oil-related products and tobacco products, among other things, according to the report.
The E.U. is also set to ban new loans to Belarus. According to the report, restrictions on Belarus’ financial sector, if agreed to by E.U. governments, will include a ban on new loans, a ban on E.U. investors from trading securities or buying short-term bonds, and a ban on E.U. banks from providing investment services. E.U. export credits will also end.