Ukraine proposes to EU to introduce scheduled export of agricultural products

Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food has proposed a new mechanism for exporting Ukrainian agrarian products to the European Union, involving scheduled shipments, Minister Vitaly Koval said in an interview with Forbes.

The proposal comes as the EU plans to review its trade preferences for Ukraine. On Tuesday, Polish media outlet RMF FM reported that the EU will not extend the current suspension of tariffs for Ukraine, which has been in place since 2022. Instead, a new trade agreement within the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is expected.

"The preferences [for Ukraine] were introduced due to the ongoing war. We are requesting their continuation, but EU countries need predictability from us. Therefore, we have proposed an option where we export products on a schedule, a certain amount per month," Koval said.

The official added that there is a risk of continuing trade preferences with subsequent cancellation.

"Therefore, my main challenge for this year is to diversify exports. However, our agrarian products have a significant import component from the EU: fuel, seeds, mineral fertilizers, plant protection agents, and machinery. We have the right to be on the EU market because we purchase a large share of production means there," said Koval.

In May 2022, the EU waived tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian exports. Starting in 2024, quotas were added for "sensitive" agrarian products from Ukraine, and the EU extended the suspension of tariffs on Ukrainian exports until mid-2025 in this form.