The new government in Warsaw has successfully won concessions from the EU in its fight to limit Ukraine’s food exports. The bloc’s top trade official has confirmed that Brussels will control the flow of agricultural products if it risks lower prices in Poland and other neighbouring countries. In April 2023, Poland and Hungary violated EU common trade law by imposing import bans on Ukrainian products, following protests by farmers about cheap exports from Ukraine causing a glut of grain on the domestic market. The ban was in defiance of EU common trade law. However, the European Commission is taking action by preparing to offer additional safeguard measures to countries bordering Ukraine, including an extension of tariff-free and quota-free access from June.
Will there be import quatos for sugar, egg and chicken meat?
The European Commission will extend trade liberalisation with Ukraine while introducing import quotas for sugar, eggs, and chicken meat to increase acceptance. It is important to note that cereals are not included in this plan.
Pre-war figures
This seemingly positive development for these industries will be significantly weakened due to the import quota being determined based on the reference year chosen, either the pre-war period or 2023. Ukraine has considerably boosted its exports to the EU since the liberalisation of trade. As Ukrainian products are not subject to European regulations, production costs are much lower, and they can now be imported tariff-free, making them unbeatable in terms of price. Prior to the war, Ukraine’s sugar imports to the EU were below 200,000 tonnes. However, in 2023, this figure increased to 450,000 tonnes. Similarly, chicken meat imports rose from 90,000 tonnes to 240,000 tonnes.
Poland is also considering an export quota
The Polish government unilaterally granted Kiev a concession in June 2022, after Russia’s large-scale invasion, which reduced Ukraine’s ability to export food to its traditional markets via the Black Sea, including Africa and Asia. EU officials are considering imposing export quotas on sensitive products such as poultry meat, sugar, and eggs from Ukraine.