The European Union does not intend to extend the current mechanism allowing duty-free imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. The existing regime is set to expire on May 18. This was announced by European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill during a briefing in Brussels.
According to Gill, instead of prolonging the temporary trade preferences, the European Commission proposes starting discussions on integrating these measures into the existing EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.
Earlier, media outlets reported that the EU is considering tightening the conditions for importing Ukrainian products. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in Poland over Ukrainian agricultural exports. The Committee for the Protection of Transport Operators and Employers has announced a new protest at the “Dorohusk–Yahodyn” border crossing. The protest is in response to trade preferences for Ukraine, which Polish transporters and farmers claim are harming their interests.
Since autumn 2023, Polish farmers and transporters have repeatedly held protests and blocked the border with Ukraine, demanding a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports and the reinstatement of restrictions on Ukrainian transport companies that were lifted due to the war.
