Overview
- On April 8, the EU countries and the European Parliament preliminarily agreed on stricter restrictions for imports of specific Ukrainian agricultural products such as poultry, sugar, and corn.
- The agreement extends the duty-free access granted to Ukrainian agricultural products since Russia's 2022 invasion but introduces caps based on average volumes between mid-2021 and end-2023.
- Polish MEP Andrzej Halicki argues the restrictions are necessary to correct 'inequalities' in trade between Ukraine and the EU, while Ukrainian officials deem the curbs baseless.
- The restrictions are expected to trim around €240 million from the earnings of Ukrainian farm products in the EU compared to 2023.
- The measures highlight tensions between Ukraine's EU aspirations and current trade realities, with disagreements on agricultural trade posing potential obstacles to Ukraine's integration into the EU.