While adjusting the industrial structure, Franz had not forgotten to make trouble for the Russians, disrupting Alexander II's plans as much as possible.
There were no allies before interests; right and wrong were irrelevant, and one's identity determined one's stance. By limiting the trouble to sabotaging Russian grain exports, Franz was already being quite restrained.
Completely blocking Russian grain exports was unrealistic. Merely setting up a few obstacles, however, was not difficult.
For example, neighboring Switzerland, after a little lobbying by Austria's Foreign Ministry, decisively slapped the Russians with high tariffs.
And then there was the German Federal Empire, which was still wrangling over whether to accept Russian grain as debt repayment. The reason was simple: the member states that had not lent money to Russia opposed it.
Austria's diplomatic influence was certainly at work behind this, but more importantly, people simply disliked the Russians. Yes, disliking the Russians could also be a reason—and indeed, it was the main reason.
The grudges involved were already too tangled to sort out. In short, the Russians had enemies throughout the European Continent; targeting them was not difficult in the slightest.
Belgium and the Netherlands were subsequently lobbied successfully by Austria as well, and both imposed high tariffs on the Russians. Spain and Portugal were no exception.
The reason was very practical: who told the Russians to be down on their luck now?
Perhaps the Russians would rise again in the future, but with Austria and the Kingdom of Prussia standing between them, these countries had no need to worry at all.
Austria's threat, meanwhile, was right before their eyes. Who knew what retaliation might follow if they rejected the Vienna Government's goodwill?
The precedent of the French annexing the Italian states had already frightened these countries badly. Austria might mind its table