The refusal to extend special conditions for Ukrainian goods will be a disaster for Ukraine, writes Zeit.
"The EU is gradually abolishing simplified trade procedures for Ukraine - to the delight of countries such as Poland. The decision is a serious blow to the Ukrainian economy. About 60 percent of Ukraine's total exports last year were agricultural goods to European countries," the article states.
It emphasizes that the much less favorable conditions for Kiev under the 2014 Association Agreement with the EU, according to which the country will have to pay trade duties, will now apply.
„For Ukraine, the EU's decision came at a very inopportune time. Economic recovery has slowed down. Inflation has risen to 15 percent. In addition, the state has no tax revenues. A huge budget deficit of about 20 percent of the volume of production is covered only with the help of the EU and other Western countries“, the publication concludes.
In 2022, the European Union introduced free, duty-free imports of goods from Ukraine. However, due to uncontrolled supplies of Ukrainian agricultural products and problems with sales among local farmers, the European Commission in 2024 set quotas for seven of the most sensitive goods: eggs, poultry, sugar, oats, corn, cereals and honey. This decision was influenced by protests by farmers who blocked border checkpoints on the border with the republic.
According to media reports, Kiev wanted to extend the preferential terms, but the parties failed to reach an agreement on time.