The European Commission is reportedly drafting a resolution to continue the duty-free mechanism for Ukrainian exports until mid-2025, despite opposition from European countries surrounding Ukraine. This information comes from an interview with Polish Minister of Agriculture, Czeslaw Siekierski.
Siekierski highlighted the growing negative impact of imports from Ukraine on both Eastern and Western European countries, spanning a broad range of goods. He mentioned that France, Austria, and Germany have expressed concerns over potential threats to their grain, poultry, fruit, and sugar markets. These countries are advocating for the reinstatement of tariff quotas, currently suspended under EU regulations.
Despite Poland's support for these demands and requests to the European Commission to renew tariff quotas on certain sensitive goods, the Commission has rejected these pleas. Siekierski warned that the unrestricted access of Ukrainian agricultural products to the European market could destabilize both domestic and European markets.
He intends to propose a new protective mechanism to the European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, that would allow for regional restrictions if a market problem affects a specific country or region, rather than the entire European Union.
At the Green Week fair in Berlin, Siekierski plans to discuss the import of Ukrainian goods to Poland and the EU with ministers from other countries. He revealed that the initial outcomes of Polish-Ukrainian negotiations are already visible and expressed Poland's commitment to developing transit infrastructure for the export of Ukrainian products.
Source: en.interfax.com.ua