Respect for your privacy is our priority

The cookie is a small information file stored in your browser each time you visit our web page.

Cookies are useful because they record the history of your activity on our web page. Thus, when you return to the page, it identifies you and configures its content based on your browsing habits, your identity and your preferences.

You may accept cookies or refuse, block or delete cookies, at your convenience. To do this, you can choose from one of the options available on this window or even and if necessary, by configuring your browser.

If you refuse cookies, we can not guarantee the proper functioning of the various features of our web page.

For more information, please read the COOKIES INFORMATION section on our web page.


News

EU suspends all duties on imports from Ukraine

03/06/2022 - François-Xavier Branthôme
We continue to stand by Ukraine in these dire times.

A few weeks ago, the European Commission proposed to suspend for one year import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the European Union. The proposal, which is an unprecedented gesture of support for a country at war, would also see the suspension for one year of all EU anti-dumping and safeguard measures in place on Ukrainian steel exports.
This far-reaching step is designed to help boost Ukraine's exports to the EU. It will help alleviate the difficult situation of Ukrainian producers and exporters in the face of Russia's military invasion.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression is severely affecting the Ukrainian economy.  I have been in discussions with President Zelensky on ways of supporting the economy, beyond the macro-financial assistance and grants we are providing. We both agree on the critical importance of a quick and broad import duty suspension to boost Ukraine's economy. The step we are taking today responds to this call. It will greatly facilitate the export of Ukrainian industrial and agricultural goods to the EU. We continue to stand by Ukraine in these dire times.”

European Commission Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “The EU has never before delivered such trade liberalisation measures, which are unprecedented in their scale: granting Ukraine zero tariff, zero quota access to the EU market. Since the start of Russia's aggression, the EU has prioritised the importance of keeping Ukraine's economy going – which is crucial both to help it win this war and to get back on its feet post-war. These measures will directly help Ukrainian producers and exporters. They will inject confidence into the Ukrainian economy and send a strong signal that the EU will to do whatever it takes to help Ukraine in its hour of need.”

As well as leading to tragic loss of life and mass displacement of innocent civilians of Ukraine, the Russian military aggression is having a devastating impact on Ukraine's economy and its ability to trade with the rest of the world due to the severe impact on its production capacity and vital export routes. In this difficult context, the EU wants to do as much as possible to help Ukraine to maintain its trade position with the rest of the world and further deepen its trade relations with the EU.

The EU is also already taking measures on the ground to facilitate overland goods transport to help to get Ukrainian products out into the world. For example, the Commission has already started liberalising the conditions for Ukrainian truck drivers transporting goods between Ukraine and the EU, as well as facilitating transit and the use of EU infrastructure to channel Ukrainian exports towards third countries. These measures will add much-needed flexibility and certainty for Ukrainian producers.

Background
In 2021, with an ambitious agenda of implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), bilateral EU-Ukraine trade had reached its highest level since the entry into force of the DCFTA (more than Euros 52 billion, double the value prior to entry into force of the DCFTA in 2016). With the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian economy and its trade with the world have suffered immensely. Alongside the raft of measures in various fields the EU has taken to support Ukraine, from imposing sanctions on Russia to providing funding for military aid, these trade measures will strengthen the EU's economic assistance to Ukraine and keep its access to the world open as it faces Russia's aggression. The last EU-Ukraine Summit (12 October 2021) reflected a number of positive ongoing processes, such as the launch of the Article 29 review on further trade liberalisation.

The proposal needed to be considered and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Latest News (May 24, 2022):
On Thursday 19 May, Parliament backed a one-year suspension of EU import duties on all Ukrainian exports, to support the country's economy.

This temporary trade liberalisation, endorsed by 515 votes, with 32 against and 11 abstentions, is a response to the impact of Russia's war against Ukraine, which is hampering the country's ability to trade. The measures were expedited to enable today's adoption in plenary. They will fully remove import duties on industrial products, entry duties on fruit and vegetables, as well as anti-dumping duties and safeguard measures on steel imports for a period of one year.

"In the face of Russian aggression, Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom and security, but for that of all of Europe. Therefore, we must support Ukraine at all levels with every tool at our disposal: not only with weapons and sanctions but with our trading power, too. Giving Ukraine the support it needs to defend itself does not end on the battlefield; it includes ensuring that Ukraine's economy remains resilient and competitive”.
"Today, we must show that our support for Ukraine is absolute, unshakeable, and irreversible by implementing these unprecedented trade liberalisation measures. Slava Ukraini!”, said Standing Rapporteur for Ukraine Sandra Kalniete (EPP, LV).

Relations between the EU and Ukraine are regulated by an Association Agreement. The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area covered by the agreement has ensured preferential access to the EU market for Ukrainian businesses since 2016.
The EU is Ukraine's most important trading partner, accounting for more than 40% of its total trade in goods in 2021. In return, Ukraine has been the EU's 15th largest trading partner, representing around 1.2% of overall EU trade.

Next steps
The measure will apply on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

 Some complementary data
Regulation text
EU measures in solidarity with Ukraine


Sources: European Parliament, TomatoEurope, TDM
Related companies

TomatoEurope

Professional or non-profit organisation See details
Related articles

Ukraine: the EU absorbs three-quarters of the country\'s paste exports

09/09/2021 See details

Ukraine: exports still climbing

21/07/2020 See details

Ukrainian exports: a 42% increase over four years!

20/03/2019 See details
Back

________________________________________

Editor : TOMATO NEWS SAS -  MAISON DE L'AGRICULTURE - TSA 48449 - 84912 AVIGNON Cedex 9 - FRANCE
contact@tomatonews.com
www.tomatonews.com

 

 

Supporting partners
Featured company
SUGAL
Most popular news
Featured event
15th World Processing Tomato Congress and 17th ISHS Symposium on Processing Tomato
Our supporting partners
immediate bitwave Library Z-Library