The EU allowed duty-free import of Ukrainian fruits

The European Union (EU) has officially announced the extension of the abolition of customs duties on imports from Ukraine for another year, according to a press release from the European Parliament. This decision applies to fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, and processed agricultural goods that fall under tariff quotas. Industrial products, however, were not included in the new proposal as they have been subject to zero duty since January 1, 2023, as per the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

The EU is Ukraine’s largest trading partner, representing 39.5% of its total trade in 2021, as reported by the European Commission. Ukraine ranks 15th among the EU’s trading partners, accounting for approximately 1.2% of the EU’s overall trade volume.

In June 2022, the EU initially implemented zero tariffs to support Ukraine’s economy following a full-scale Russian invasion. However, this decision faced criticism from several neighboring EU member states due to the potential destabilization of their domestic agricultural markets. For instance, Poland and Hungary imposed temporary bans on the import of agricultural goods from Ukraine until June 30. In response, the European Commission allocated an additional 100 million euros in aid to farmers in these countries who incurred losses as a result of imports from Ukraine.

Source: Journal “Vegetables and Fruits”