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First go-ahead to renewing trade support for Ukraine and Moldova

07.03.2024 20:41 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Duties and quotas temporarily suspended to support Ukraine amidst Russia’s war of aggression

MEPs agreed to extend trade liberalisation measures for Moldova for another year

Safeguard measures protect EU farmers in case of market disruptions

MEPs on the International Trade Committee endorsed the extension of trade liberalisation measures to support Ukraine and Moldova in the face of Russia’s war.

MEPs approved on Thursday, by 26 votes, with 10 against and 1 abstentions, a proposal to renew the temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU for another year, from 6 June 2024 to 5 June 2025, to support Ukraine amidst Russia’s continuing war of aggression against the country.

The legislation empowers the Commission to take swift action and impose any necessary measures should there be significant disruptions to the EU market, or to the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports. It also provides for an emergency brake for particularly sensitive agricultural products, namely poultry, eggs, and sugar, meaning that if imports of these products surpass the average 2022 and 2023 volumes, tariffs would be re-imposed.

The liberalising measures are conditional on Ukraine’s respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law, and its sustained efforts to fight corruption and organised crime.

Parliament is expected to vote on its first reading position during next week’s plenary session. If Parliament adopts its first reading position, the Council will then formally approve the regulation, and it will enter into force after being published in the EU Official Journal.

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, has ensured that Ukrainian businesses have preferential access to the EU market since 2016. In the immediate aftermath of the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU put in place autonomous trade measures (ATMs) in June 2022, which allow duty-free access for all Ukrainian products to the EU market. These measures were extended by one year in June 2023 and are set to expire on 5 June 2024.

On 31 January 2024, the EU Commission proposed that import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports should be suspended for another year. Russia has deliberately targeted Ukrainian food production and Black Sea exporting facilities to undermine the country’s economy and threaten global food security.

Total EU imports from Ukraine amounted to ˆ24.3 billion in the 12 months to October 2023 compared to pre-war levels in 2021 of ˆ24 billion, according to the Commission.

Source: European Parliament

Agro Perspectiva

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