European Union lawmakers have reached an agreement to renew Ukraine's import rates, which have been in place since shortly after Russia's invasion. The decision includes adding protective measures for agricultural products like grain and honey to address concerns raised by farmers across the 27-nation bloc.
Farmers have been protesting against red tape and competition from cheap imports from certain countries. Poland has been at the forefront of the opposition to duty-free imports, with Polish farmers staging protests that included blocking border crossings with Ukraine, spilling Ukrainian grain, and burning tires.
The EU has decided to extend its temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the bloc, initially granted in 2022 to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The agreement also introduces a reinforced safeguard that would require the European Commission to reintroduce tariff-rate quotas if imports of poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, maize, groats, and honey exceed average volumes imported in 2022 and 2023.
The safeguard measures aim to limit the influx of cheap imports of these goods to ensure that domestic farmers remain competitive in the market. Initially covering poultry, eggs, and sugar, the safeguard has now been extended to include oats, maize, groats, and honey. Lawmakers have also secured commitments from the Commission to take action in case of a surge in Ukrainian wheat imports.
Parliamentary rapporteur Sandra Kalniete emphasized that the agreement strikes a balance between supporting Ukraine and safeguarding the interests of EU farmers. She highlighted the impact of Russia's actions on Ukraine's food production and how it affects EU farmers. The deal, reached ahead of an EU leaders' summit in Brussels, is set to be formally approved by both the Parliament and member countries, with implementation expected in early June and extension until June 5, 2025.
