2023-04-16 13:44:06
The European Union has criticized the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain decided by Poland and Hungary. Unilateral trade measures by EU countries are not permitted, a spokesman for the EU Commission said on Sunday. Poland had announced that it would stop imports of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine. Hungary followed immediately. Both countries justified their actions by wanting to avert damage to domestic agriculture.
The EU has taken note of the decisions made by Poland and Hungary, said the Commission spokesman. “In this context, it is important to stress that trade policy is an exclusive competence of the EU and therefore unilateral action is not acceptable,” the spokesman wrote in an emailed statement. Especially in challenging times it is important to coordinate decisions within the EU.
Central European countries have large stocks of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than what is produced in the European Union. Due to logistical problems, it was not transported further. This depresses prices and sales opportunities for local farmers.
This caused resentment in Poland and other Eastern European countries, and farmers called for the introduction of tariffs. However, the European Union extended duty-free imports of Ukrainian grain until June 2024. This poses a problem for the ruling PiS party in Poland, especially since parliamentary elections are due this year. The import ban also applies to goods that are only to be transported through Poland, explained Development and Technology Minister Waldemar Buda on Sunday. “It is a comprehensive ban.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture said the Polish ban conflicted with bilateral export agreements. There must be talks to solve the problem. It is understood that Polish farmers are in a difficult situation. The situation of Ukrainian farmers is currently even more difficult.
According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, a meeting of the responsible Polish and Ukrainian ministers is scheduled for Monday. The main point is the transport of grain. According to Ukraine’s Minister of Agriculture Mykola Solsky, between 500,000 and 700,000 tons of various goods cross the Polish border every month, including grain, vegetables, eggs, oil, sugar and meat.
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