The European Union has allowed temporary trade concessions for Ukraine to expire, ending a duty-free system put in place shortly after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. This was reported by the DPA agency, citing the European Commission, BTA reports.
According to the decision, transitional trade rules come into force from midnight and will remain valid until a new trade agreement is agreed between Brussels and Kiev.
This means that Ukrainian exports to the EU once again fall under the tariff quota regime provided for in the 2016 association agreement.
The EU abolished tariffs on Ukrainian imports in June 2022 as a gesture of solidarity and economic support for the war-torn country. The concessions were extended in 2023, but with restrictions on agricultural products such as grain, eggs and poultry meat introduced due to growing tensions among farmers in a number of member states.
Cheap Ukrainian imports have sparked protests, especially in eastern EU countries, where local producers have complained of unfair competition. Similar concerns were voiced in France, where there were calls for tighter customs controls. According to EU diplomats, national agricultural interests played a major role in the decision to end the concessions.
By the end of 2025, Ukraine will be able to export only seven-twelfths of the annual quota set under the previous agreement. The European Commission said it was working on a new, balanced trade agreement that would take into account the interests of both Ukraine and EU farmers.