The European Union has ended the so-called “trade visa-free regime” for Ukraine, which involved the cancellation of tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural goods. These temporary benefits were in effect since June 2022, when the EU introduced them to support Ukrainian exports affected by the loss of traditional maritime routes in the Black Sea. As of June 6, 2025, the European Union has reverted to the trade quota regime that was in place before the full-scale war began.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for the Delay in the New Trade Agreement
Currently, Ukraine and the EU are negotiating a new long-term trade agreement, which experts estimate will be more beneficial for Ukrainian producers compared to the current restrictions. The new document is expected to be prepared by the end of July 2025.
“The European Commission deliberately delayed work on the new agreement to avoid publicizing proposals that are expected to benefit Ukrainian producers before the presidential elections in Poland and Romania. There were concerns that potential farmer protests in both countries could affect the outcomes of the presidential elections,”
notes the Polish publication Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
Response of Polish Farmers and Trade Balance
Polish farmers express concerns about competition from cheap Ukrainian products. These worries are exacerbated by geographical proximity and a significant price difference between Ukrainian and Polish goods. Last year, Poland’s trade balance deficit in the agri-food sector with Ukraine reached €600 million.