The European Union plans to reduce the volume of agricultural imports from Ukraine following a review of trade terms. This was announced by the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christoph Hansen, in an interview with AFP.
This is reported by Finway
Changes in Trade Relations
Hansen noted that Brussels aims to “find a new agreement” for trade with Ukraine before the current partial liberalization terms expire in June. “Discussions need to be swift. The European Union is ready for negotiations, and this should happen in the coming weeks. Import quotas will not remain the same as during this temporary liberalization. So, indeed, there will be less import,” he added.
Response to Challenges
According to the Commissioner, EU countries do not support the continuation of the current trade terms with Ukraine, as they “have caused problems, especially in some member states.” Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU lifted tariffs on Ukrainian products as a sign of support. However, European farmers have expressed dissatisfaction, as cheap goods from Ukraine have negatively impacted their businesses.
In response to these concerns, last year the EU began imposing restrictions on the import of certain products, such as sugar, poultry meat, eggs, and corn, while continuing the liberalization of trade with Ukraine. This week, the European Commission announced the preparation of a new proposal regarding the format of trade relations with Ukraine, which is planned for after the expiration of the current trade liberalization mechanism on June 5, 2025.