European Commission plans smooth transition between trade regimes with Ukraine

The European Commission does not plan to extend the autonomous trade measures (ATM) regime for Ukraine (the so-called “trade visa-free regime”), which is in effect until June 5, but will ensure a smooth transition to a new scheme where all the conditions for trade liberalization will be set out in a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU. This was announced at a briefing by European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill.

He emphasized that autonomous trade measures, which remove most of the barriers to Ukrainian exports to the EU, will not be completely abolished: all the details of trade liberalization between Ukraine and the EU will be set out in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA).

“We intend to ensure a smooth transition to the new regime, where all trade arrangements will be enshrined in the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement that we have with Ukraine,” Olof Gill said.

“Thus, we intend to make a transition that will allow the ATZ to expire, after which all the details of liberalization will be programmed into the DCFTA,” he clarified.

The European Commission spokesman said he “cannot say when this process will start”.

“But it will happen soon and it will happen in a structured way so that there is no room for doubt,” he emphasized.

“We are going to ensure that there is no need to roll back. We will put in place a process to ensure that when the ATZ expires, the way we trade with Ukraine bilaterally is fully integrated into our DCFTA,” Olof Gill concluded.

Tags: EU, Ukraine