Ukraine wants to avoid WTO trial and find understanding with its neighbors

Ukraine will insist on the abolition of national bans by EU countries against Ukrainian agricultural products, and is ready to introduce a regime of export control to these countries.

Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine, said this on television, according to the Ministry of Economy.

“For us, the key point is to reach an understanding with Poland and the other four neighboring countries on their imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. After all, on September 15, the European Commission lifted the ban on Ukrainian exports, replacing it with a control mechanism. It is expected that in the future, a mechanism for joint verification and approval of the supply of four types of agricultural products to the five EU countries will be in place. This is a very complicated trade mechanism, so we do not expect a significant increase in Ukrainian exports.

It is important for us because we want to show what the demand really is, who actually buys Ukrainian products, and gradually involve the governments of these EU countries in the assessment of these supplies. After all, it will become clear that the ban is not needed and we can gradually return to normalized trade,” said Taras Kachka.

According to him, two countries – Bulgaria and Romania – have responded positively to this proposal and are currently negotiating with them to establish bilateral communication mechanisms. However, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have not yet lifted their national bans on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.

“We are now working with these countries and the European Commission to reach a compromise. And I hope that this week we will have good news that we have agreed on a mechanism of cooperation that will suit everyone and will allow us to avoid formal bans in our bilateral trade. Therefore, a lawsuit to the WTO is not the main tool for solving the problem, but only our reaction to the introduction of national bans. Ideally, we would like to avoid a lengthy court case within the World Trade Organization. Our priority is to reach an understanding with our neighbors through negotiations,” emphasized Taras Kachka.

Tags: Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, EU, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia