Poland opposes extension of trade preferences for Ukraine

Polish Minister of Agriculture Czeslaw Sekerski has written a letter to the European Commissioner for Trade warning that Poland is against trade concessions for Ukraine. This was reported by RMF FM radio station with reference to the letter from the Polish minister.

The letter states that the position of the new Polish government on the problems in trade with Ukraine has not changed much.

“Regarding the possible extension of trade preferences for imports of agricultural products from Ukraine for another year, I want to emphasize that in principle I am against such a decision,” Sekerski’s letter says.

Sekersky emphasizes that problems with excessive imports arise “not only in the sectors of corn, wheat and rapeseed, but also in the sectors of sugar, poultry, eggs, berries (especially frozen raspberries) or apple concentrate.”

The abolition of quotas for Ukrainian sugar has led to a 20-fold increase in its imports to the EU in the 2022/2023 season compared to the quota set in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the Polish minister noted.

“Immediate liberalization of imports contributes not so much to Ukraine’s economy as to increasing the profits of a small group of oligarchs who often place their capital outside Ukraine,” the Polish minister said and suggested moving to gradual mutual liberalization of markets between Ukraine and the EU.

The Law and Justice government withdrew from the Platform in protest of the European Commission’s failure to extend the EU embargo on Ukrainian grain. Sekerski also expressed his readiness to meet with European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

Tags: Ukraine, corn, grain, Poland, sugar, Meat, wheat, rapeseed, restrictions