Poland and France have agreed to further restrict imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, potentially costing Ukraine €1.2 billion in trade revenues, ahead of crucial trade talks between Ukraine and the EU. According to Politico, further restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products were supported by France, which joined Poland in this issue. Macron and Tusk met during the Weimar Triangle summit in Berlin and signed an agreement on the eve of talks between the EU countries and the European Parliament on trade with Ukraine, UNN reports.
Details
French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have agreed on a common position on imports of Ukrainian products to the EU: France has joined the minority camp led by Poland that insists on further restrictions, Politico reports. This happened on the eve of important talks aimed at overcoming the differences between EU countries and the European Parliament on trade with Ukraine.
Two diplomats told Politico behind closed doors that the likely change on the eve of crucial talks Tuesday night would cost Ukraine €1.2 billion in trade revenue, a huge cut for a country that needs all the help it can get.
The proposed restrictions relate to various grain crops and other products subject to import restrictions. The restrictions will expand the list of goods subject to import restrictions to include cereals and honey.
The base period for calculating the restrictions, which covered the period of 2021-2023, is also being extended by one year. The extension of the base period to 2021, the last year before Russia's full-scale invasion, is due to the fact that Ukrainian food exports to the EU were significantly lower that year, the publication writes.
For reference
Although Poland has been one of Ukraine's biggest supporters since the Russian offensive began in February 2022, relations between the two countries have been complicated by commercial disputes, including Brussels' opening of European borders to Ukrainian agricultural products that Polish farmers say do not meet EU standards.
Recall
Polish farmers continue to block truck traffic at five checkpoints. Border crossing rates at these locations are almost zero. In total, there are almost 1000 trucks in queues in Poland.
The EU is preparing to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarusto appease farmers and some member states, the first food restriction since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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