Shmyhal wrote about this in Telegram.
“Ukraine will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia due to unilateral restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. At the same time, our Government offers the EU and neighboring countries a compromise scenario,” the head of government writes.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the country has already presented the European Commission with an action plan for controlling the export of four groups of Ukrainian agricultural products. It will help prevent any market distortions in neighboring EU member states. The government plans to adopt a resolution that stipulates that export goods for 5 neighboring states will receive verification and approval from the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy.
“At the same time, Ukraine has already submitted a formal request to Poland, Hungary and Slovakia for violation of World Trade Organization norms. We are also starting an anti-discrimination investigation against the unfriendly actions of these countries in the trade sphere based on the statistics of 2023. If Poland and Hungary do not agree to the measures agreed with the European Commission and do not cancel unilateral bans on our goods, we will make a decision to ban the import of certain categories of goods from the specified countries into Ukraine,” Shmyhal explains.
He emphasized that Russia attacks Ukrainian ports every day, destroys infrastructure, elevators, attacks agricultural enterprises and mines fields, and the further blocking of exports by neighboring countries affects the Ukrainian economy, finances, tax revenues and jobs.
“Such a blockade will also play into the hands of Russia’s plan to create another world food crisis. We once again call on our neighbors to abandon harmful and illegal restrictions, political populism and embark on the path of constructive dialogue, from which everyone will actually benefit,” Shmyhal added.
What is known about the ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine
On February 2, Polish farmers began blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. This was due to the fact that Polish farmers are outraged that due to the uncontrolled flow of Ukrainian grain to Poland, the prices of their products have collapsed. Farmers there claim that Ukrainian grain should be transported through Poland only to ports, but it ends up on the Polish market. On February 16 and 17, Polish farmers resumed protests at the border with Ukraine.
On April 7, it became known that Ukraine agreed to stop grain exports to Poland, and on April 15, the country approved a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products to Poland.
In April, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary also decided to unilaterally ban the import of agricultural products from Ukraine.
On June 5, the European Union decided to extend the ban on the import of certain types of agricultural products from Ukraine for five EU members until September 15, but promised to gradually cancel them.
Later, the Minister of Agriculture of Poland, Robert Telus, said that the country will demand from the European Union to extend the ban on the import of grain from Ukraine, and in case of refusal, it will introduce its own restrictions. According to him, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary also have such intentions.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the plans of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Hungary to extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain until the end of 2023: the actions of 5 EU countries were called unacceptable.
On September 13, Bulgaria’s parliamentary committee on economic policy and innovation adopted a draft decision stating that the country does not support the continuation of the ban on the import of certain agricultural products from Ukraine after September 15.
On September 15, the European Commission decided not to extend the ban on the export of Ukrainian grain to the EU: Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced that they would extend the embargo unilaterally.
On the same day, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal remarked, that the EU’s decision will not only help Ukrainian exports and the economy in the conditions of blocking the Black Sea ports, but also contribute to global food security. He called on individual EU member states to refrain from unlawful unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products.
At the same time, Deputy Minister of Economy, trade representative Taras Kachka said that the negotiations on agriculture turned into aggression on the part of Poland and hints of influence during Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
On September 18, the Minister of Agriculture of Spain, Luis Planas Puchades statedthat a unilateral ban by any member state of the European Union on the import of Ukrainian grain is illegal.
Deputy Minister of Economy, trade representative Taras Kachka said that Kyiv will sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia due to their refusal to lift the ban on Ukrainian agricultural products. At the same time, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced that they would withdraw from the “grain” platform because of this lawsuit.
Fuente: espreso.tv
