EU restores quotas for Ukraine at 7/12 of annual volumes

The European Union has decided to restore quotas on agricultural imports from Ukraine, which were lifted at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, to support Ukrainian farmers.

The updated restrictions will come into force on June 6, Bloomberg reports, citing the European Commission.

However, according to a European Commission spokesman, the quotas are a temporary measure and the EU is working on a revision of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Ukraine. The quotas available until the end of 2025 will be 7/12 of the normal annual volume.

No member state opposed the decision. Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Lithuania abstained.

It notes that agricultural exports are crucial to Ukraine’s economy, and easier trade with the EU has helped Ukrainian farmers overcome major challenges, including the temporary loss of their main export route across the Black Sea and production problems caused by mining and military conscription.

However, the surge in exports of relatively cheap Ukrainian goods to the EU market has led to resistance from local farmers in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. This has provoked political confrontation over protectionist measures between neighboring countries, some of which, like Poland, were previously strong allies.

Tags: Ukraine, EU, restrictions