Eastern EU countries are urging the European Union to impose import duties on Ukrainian grains, claiming unfair competition, according to Hungary’s agricultural ministry.
The farm ministers of Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia wrote to the European Commission requesting these measures, asserting that cheaper agricultural products from Ukraine are harming their export markets.
The ministers argue that the EU should protect the markets of member states bordering Ukraine by introducing measures like import duties on sensitive agricultural products.
They also call on the European Commission to assess whether Ukraine’s production guidelines align with EU standards.
The complaints were directed to EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Farm Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
Tensions arose as Ukraine’s larger farm sizes resulted in cheaper grain exports, affecting EU farmers in traditional markets.
Last year, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia saw depressed prices when the EU suspended import quotas and customs on Ukrainian grain.
In response, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary restricted Ukrainian grain imports.
Ukraine complained to the World Trade Organisation, and other EU members criticised the unilateral moves.
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