Ukraine to ban certain imports from Poland, Hungary unless they lift agrifood import restrictions – PM Shmyhal
Ukraine should ban imports of certain goods from Poland and Hungary if these two countries do not comply with the measures agreed upon with the European Commission and do not revoke their unilateral bans on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
"Ukraine will sue Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia at the World Trade Organization over their unilateral restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. At the same time, our government is offering the EU and the neighboring countries a compromise scenario. We have already submitted our action plan for controlling exports of four groups of agricultural produce from Ukraine to the European Commission," he said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.
This control should help prevent any market distortions in the EU member states neighboring Ukraine, Shmyhal said.
"In particular, we are planning to adopt a resolution stipulating that products exported to the five neighboring countries would require verification and clearance from the Ukrainian Economy Ministry," he said.
Ukraine has sent a formal inquiry to Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia regarding a violation of World Trade Organization norms, Shmyhal said.
"We are also starting an anti-discrimination investigation against unfriendly steps by these countries in the trade sector based on 2023 statistics. If Poland and Hungary do not consent to the measures agreed upon with the European Commission and do not revoke their unilateral bans with regard to our products, we will make a decision on banning imports of certain categories of goods from said countries into Ukraine," he said.
A continued embargo on Ukraine's agrarian exports by its neighbors would deal a blow to the economy, finances, tax collection, and jobs, he said, adding that such a blockage will also play into the hands of Russia's plan to create another global food crisis.
"We are calling on our neighbors once again to lift their harmful and unlawful restrictions and their political populism and embark on a path of constructive dialogue, which would truly benefit everyone," he said.