Ukraine and the EU have started negotiations. Kyiv insists on higher quotas than before the war, Brussels reminds about three sensitive goods

The European Union and Ukraine are negotiating a new deal that would set quotas for agricultural imports from Ukraine at a level “between” pre-war restrictions and temporary concessions, EU Agriculture Commissioner Christoph Hansen told Reuters.

The EU and Ukraine have returned to pre-war trade quotas since June 6, while talks on a long-term deal are ongoing. Brussels is seeking to strike a balance between supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and taking into account the interests of European farmers who “suffer from cheaper imports from Ukraine.”

“What will be agreed will be something between quotas under the current Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) and temporary autonomous trade measures,” Hansen told Reuters on Thursday.

Ukraine’s Minister of Agricultural Policy, Vitaliy Koval, told Reuters this week that Kyiv is pushing for higher quotas than before the war.

Hansen said the new sugar quotas would be “significantly higher” than before the war:

“I think we can absorb some of this,” he said, adding that the issues of sugar, poultry and egg imports remain sensitive.

Negotiations on a new agreement between Ukraine and the EU started on June 2. According to Hansen, an agreement could be reached this summer.

“Now everything depends on both sides. Technically, it is quite possible,” he stressed.

The pre-war regime, which was reintroduced on Friday, will also include simplified import licensing rules for some goods, such as eggs and poultry. Instead of mandatory licenses, quotas will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis.

Tags: sugar, agricultural products, Ukraine, EU