EU-Ukraine agricultural trade rules updates: What’s in store for Ukraine

Today marks the implementation of new regulations governing duty-free and quota-free trade in agricultural products between Ukraine and the EU, set to last for a year. The new rules establish quotas for select agricultural products based on harvest averages from the latter half of 2021 through 2023. Should export potential exceed these benchmarks, emergency measures will be triggered.

Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, revealed these developments during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

He described the negotiations as challenging but ultimately fruitful, granting Ukraine another year to sell its products. However, restrictions will apply to six types of products: corn, honey, chicken, sugar, eggs, and cereals. Compliance with specified criteria is crucial, as surpassing export thresholds triggers emergency measures, a novel feature in EU history whose practical implications remain uncertain.

Marchuk also highlighted the EU’s newfound authority for member states to prohibit certain Ukrainian products. If deemed necessary, a state can bar excessive imports, such as those within the grain or oilseed categories. For instance, current sugar restrictions stem from reaching the 2024 quota, exhausting it from June 2024 to June 2025.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news