Latvia bans imports of books, clothing, and toys made in Russia and Belarus

Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, approved amendments to the law on supporting Ukraine's civilian population in a final reading on July 23, imposing a ban on the import of various goods manufactured in Russia and Belarus, according to the news outlet Delfi.

The government is yet to finalize the list of restricted items, but it is expected to include books and periodicals in Russian, video games, sporting goods, toys, clothing, and footwear. The ban covers not only direct imports but also goods routed through third countries. However, Latvia will continue to allow the transit of Russian- and Belarusian-made goods across its territory to other EU member states.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stated that Russia uses books and periodicals for propaganda purposes. The government acknowledged that the ban could lead to price increases in some sectors but emphasized that the affected goods can be replaced with products from other countries.

According to an explanatory note attached to the bill, Latvia's imports from Russia and Belarus have decreased by 91% since 2022. In 2025, these imports totaled €193 million, accounting for less than one percent of the country's total goods imports. Products covered by the planned ban represented approximately €12.5 million of that total.