5 March 2024

2 minute learn

The European Union should enable Ukrainian meals producers entry to EU markets long run, relatively than simply extending measures 12 months by 12 months, leaving them on the mercy of political pressures, Reuters reported, citing a senior Ukrainian official on Monday.

Ukraine desires to completely take away tariffs and quotas on EU agricultural imports by updating its commerce cope with the EU, or a minimum of prolong the present suspension for 3 years, Markiyan Dmytrasevych, deputy minister for agrarian coverage and meals, mentioned.

“We’d like one thing extra handy for planning,” he informed Reuters in an interview throughout a visit to Brussels. “Lots of assets go into these talks yearly. Then now we have new calls for, new protests within the EU and its member states.”

Ukrainian meals exporters have confronted a wave of protests, together with blockades of border crossings, from EU farmers in current months, with many indignant over what they are saying is unfair competitors from cheaper Ukrainian imports.

The European Fee has proposed import duties and quotas on Ukrainian farm produce – initially suspended in 2022 after Russia’s invasion, which hit shipments through the Black Sea – be lifted for an additional 12 months to June 2025.

The proposal introduces an “emergency brake” for poultry, eggs and sugar, permitting tariffs if imports exceed the common ranges of 2022 and 2023.

A majority of EU governments backed the proposal, however the scenario amongst lawmakers is unclear. A parliamentary committee is ready to vote on the proposal on Thursday, however with quite a few doable amendments.

They embrace extending the listing of emergency brake merchandise and including as a reference 12 months 2021, earlier than Russia’s invasion when Ukrainian exports to the EU have been curbed by tariffs and quotas.

“That won’t work for us,” Dmytrasevych mentioned.

He mentioned Ukrainian farm produce was not harming EU markets. Ukrainian sugar imported into the EU made up lower than 3% of consumption, he mentioned, and costs in supermarkets have been nonetheless above pre-war ranges.

Certainly Romania had particularly requested for sugar imports, he mentioned, whereas Hungary, with an efficient import ban, had additionally wanted Ukrainian sugar to steadiness costs.