EU states agree: stricter tariffs for Ukrainian food are to be imposed

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A burning field in Ukraine: Wheat from the country remains duty-free for the time being, but other agricultural products are not

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- / dpa

No tariffs on Ukrainian goods - this was intended to strengthen the economy of the country attacked by Russia shortly after the start of the Ukrainian war. Local farmers are therefore exposed to disproportionate competition and have protested. Ambassadors from EU states have now agreed on a new compromise on customs requirements for Ukrainian agricultural products, the Belgian EU Council Presidency announced.

According to diplomats, the compromise stipulates that fewer goods can be sold duty-free into the EU. This is likely to be a disadvantage for Ukrainian agriculture. Products affected include eggs, poultry, sugar and corn. Tightening the requirements also requires a majority in the European Parliament. Last week, negotiators from member states and the European Parliament agreed on new customs requirements for Ukrainian goods.

Specifically, affected goods should only be allowed to be imported into the EU duty-free up to a certain amount. When this amount is reached, tariffs will be due again. Parliament and EU states agreed last week that this amount will be based on the average imports in 2022 and 2023. According to information from diplomatic circles, this reference period will now also include the second half of 2021, when even fewer of the affected Ukrainian goods were sold to the EU.

The current customs relief for Ukraine will expire in the summer. If no new regulation is found by then, the trade facilitation would no longer apply.

On Tuesday, Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) said that Ukraine's defense also depends on "not taking part in Putin's propaganda." The problem of falling grain prices is not due to Ukrainian deliveries. »There is simply no evidence for this. Anyone who says that should please back it up with facts and numbers," said Özdemir.

Criticism of the EU states' move

The chairman of the European Parliament's trade committee, Bernd Lange (SPD), told the dpa news agency that on the one hand, unwavering solidarity with Ukraine was proclaimed, but when it came to economic stability, the screws were being tightened. “This measure is purely emotionally based in order to pacify the discussion with farmers at home,” said Lange. Imposing an additional burden on the Ukrainians is unacceptable.

Ukraine is an important global producer of wheat; people in poorer countries in particular rely on cheap grain from the Eastern European country. Because of the Russian attack on the EU's neighboring country, wheat could temporarily not be transported out of the country via the sea route, which is important for trade. The prices for wheat had risen significantly in the meantime. With the new regulation, wheat will initially remain duty-free.

hba/dpa