EU to end duty-free trade for Ukrainian agricultural products, proposes new deal – RMF FM

The European Commission will not extend the unilateral suspension of tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural products, which has been in place for three years and is set to expire on June 5, according to Polish outlet RMF FM.

Instead, European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen announced a new trade agreement under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), part of the 2016 EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

This move signifies a return to pre-war trade rules, as maintaining the current arrangement would be too detrimental to Ukraine.

The new agreement will focus on mutual trade liberalization, offering benefits to both sides. It may include quotas for sensitive agricultural products and introduce new protective mechanisms.

Additionally, Ukraine will need to comply with EU standards on food safety and animal welfare, aligning with its future EU membership goals.

Sources from RMF FM indicate that the level of support for Ukraine may decrease, and agricultural quotas could be lower than current levels.

The European Commission has already begun technical-level negotiations with Ukraine, led by Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič of Slovakia, who shares Poland’s cautious stance on agricultural trade with Ukraine. His predecessor, Valdis Dombrovskis, was a representative of Latvia, which supports Ukraine "at all costs."

Interlocutors in the EC emphasized that the negotiations would be difficult and very sensitive.

Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski emphasized the delicate balance of the negotiations, stating, "We cannot abandon Ukraine, but Ukraine cannot threaten the interests of European agriculture."

In May 2022, the EU suspended tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian exports. From 2024, quotas were added for "sensitive" agricultural products, and the suspension of tariffs was extended until mid-2025.