The EU is ending its decision to fully liberalize trade with Ukraine, the Official Journal of the European Union reports.
So, from today, quotas that allow the import of strictly limited volumes of goods duty-free or at preferential rates come into force again. After the exhaustion of these quotas, the EU will apply standard duties for Ukrainian products.
A representative of the European Commission told journalists in Brussels on May 22 about the decision not to extend duty-free imports and the approval of transitional measures. This means that during the remaining months of 2025, tariff quotas calculated for the entire year will apply to Kiev.
Free duty-free imports of goods from Ukraine into EU countries began in 2022. Due to uncontrolled supplies of agricultural products and problems with sales among European farmers, in 2024 the EC 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 even blocked the border checkpoint on the border with Ukraine.
According to media reports, Kiev wanted to extend the preferential conditions for the continuation of duty-free supplies, but the parties failed to reach an agreement in time.
According to the European Commission, during the period of the preferential regime, Ukraine significantly increased its supplies to EU countries. If in 2021-2022 it exported 40 thousand tons of sugar there, then in 2023-2024 this figure increased to 500 thousand tons.