A first for the EU since 2022

The European Union (EU) has modified the policy it implemented in 2022 to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion, which suspended customs duties and quotas on agricultural products from Ukraine.

As of today, the EU Council has officially reinstated import quotas on agricultural products imported from Ukraine. With this decision, the full-capacity free trade practice initiated to support the Ukrainian economy has come to an end. The policy change, published in the Official Journal of the EU, entered into force following the expiration of Regulation (EU) 2024/1392, which was valid until June 5, 2025.

QUOTA SYSTEM

According to the quota system reintroduced with the change, agricultural products imported from Ukraine, such as poultry, sugar, eggs, and corn, will only have duty-free and preferential access within a specific quota. Once these quotas are exceeded, standard customs duties will be reapplied.

NO TARIFFS ON UKRAINIAN IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS FOR 3 YEARS

In the new regulation adopted by the EU Council yesterday and implemented today, which replaces Regulation (EU) 2024/1392 that was valid until June 5, 2025, the decision to extend the policy of not applying tariffs to iron and steel products originating from Ukraine for 3 years was highlighted. In a statement made by the Council, it was said, "The Council today adopted a regulation extending the suspension of EU safeguard measures on iron and steel products. This step aims to support the Ukrainian economy against Russia's war of aggression. The goal is to alleviate the difficulties faced by Ukrainian producers due to the war."

In this context, the decision, which will provide Ukrainian iron and steel exporters with tariff-free access to the EU market, will exempt these products from restrictions applied to other producers worldwide.

On the other hand, the EU Commission will reserve the right to reintroduce temporary safeguard measures for certain steel products for a period of 12 months.

UKRAINE IS CONCERNED

The Kyiv administration is concerned that the EU's quotas on agricultural products imported from Ukraine will begin to fill up within a few months, resulting in a halt to agricultural exports from Ukraine to the EU. Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, stated in his remarks to the Ukrainian press today that if an agreement is not reached between Ukraine and the EU regarding an increase in quotas, these quotas will begin to fill up in August-September.

FARMERS IN EU COUNTRIES HAD REACTED

The measures, which were implemented to support Ukraine's stability following the start of the war in 2022, had caused reactions from farmers in EU countries. Countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria had harshly criticized the practice on the grounds that agricultural products originating from Ukraine were lowering prices in the domestic market and disrupting the balance.