Trade Ukraine Odessa – Image by Dimitry Anikin on Pixabay
(BRUSSELS) – The suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU is to be extended for another year, following Monday’s adoption by the Council and April 23 vote in the European Parliament.
The renewal reflects unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine by the EU, following two years of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. It also reinforces the protection of EU farmers as regards certain sensitive agricultural products.
The EU’s autonomous trade measures for Ukraine will apply from 6 June 2024 until 5 June 2025 and concern the continued suspension of all outstanding customs duties and quotas under Title IV of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (DCFTA).
The Regulation will also include two safeguard mechanisms to protect the EU market:
- a strengthened version of the existing safeguard mechanism, which will apply on the basis of regular monitoring, allowing the Commission to impose any measure provided that specific conditions are met;
- a new, automatic safeguard mechanism which will oblige the Commission to reintroduce quotas if imports of poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, maize, groats and honey exceed the arithmetic mean of quantities imported in the second half of 2021, in 2022 and in 2023.
The EU’s autonomous trade measures for Moldova will apply from 25 July 2024 to 24 July 2025. These take the form of a temporary suspension of all outstanding customs duties and quotas under Title V of the Association Agreement. They also reinforce the protection for sensitive agricultural products, by beefing up the safeguard mechanism already included in the current Regulation.
Regulation on temporary trade-liberalisation measures – Ukraine (agreed at first reading)
Regulation on temporary trade-liberalisation measures – Moldova (agreed at first reading)
