Britain cuts Ukraine tariffs on poultry to zero

Furthermore, the European Commission has proposed the suspension of import duties on all Ukrainian goods not covered by an existing free trade deal.

In Britain, tariffs would be reduced to zero and all quotas removed following a request from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. This move would boost Ukrainian businesses involved in key exports such as poultry and barley.

“We stand unwaveringly with Ukraine in this ongoing fight and will work to ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation,” said British international trade secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

Britain said currently the average tariff on Ukrainian imports was about 22%. It said the planned change had been offered on a non-reciprocal basis, but Kyiv was likely to match the British action.

The European Commission proposed the year-long suspension of import duties on all Ukrainian goods not covered by an existing free trade deal to help the country’s economy.

The measures will apply specifically to fruit and vegetables, agricultural products facing quotas, and some industrial goods, tariffs on which were only due to be phased out by the end of 2022.

That phase-out, set out in the 2016 EU-Ukraine free trade agreement, applies to fertilisers, aluminium products and cars.

Zelenskiy had reportedly discussed the proposal with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and expressed gratitude. “Right now, this will allow us to maintain economic activity in Ukraine, our national production, as much as possible,” he said.

The proposal would need to be agreed to by the European Parliament and EU governments.

In 2021, bilateral EU-Ukraine trade was more than €52 billion.