The EU Limits Duty - Free Exports of Some Ukrainian Agricultural Products to Pacify Local Farmers Protests

After months of continuous farmers protests on the European continent, EU member states and the European Parliament have finally reached an agreement to restrict the duty - free exports of some Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU market, trying to ease the current tense situation.

According to this agreement, the EU will continue to allow the duty - free exports of Ukrainian wheat and barley, but implement a series of restrictive measures of protecting the European market and producers for more sensitive agricultural products such as oats, corn, sugar, honey, eggs and poultry. Specific measures include restoring some tariffs and setting quota caps.

Previously, the EU announced in June 2022 to extend the tariff exemption period for Ukrainian agricultural products until June 2023 to help Ukraine tide over its economic difficulties. However, this decision has triggered strong dissatisfaction among European local farmers, who accused the unrestricted influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural products into the EU of depressing the prices of local agricultural products, constituting unfair competition.

Especially in some countries bordering Ukraine, the farmers anger is more intense. Polish farmers have blocked the border crossings with Germany and Ukraine several times to protest against the governments neglect of farmers interests.

Finally, at an emergency special meeting held by the European Parliament in Strasbourg from Tuesday to Wednesday this week, all parties reached a compromise. The EU decided to extend the tariff exemption period for Ukrainian agricultural products until June 5, 2025, but at the same time set limits on some sensitive varieties.

However, the EU also reserves the power to urgently cancel the tariff exemption if Ukrainian products continue to disrupt the local market to prevent the situation from deteriorating again.

This balancing act reflects that the EU is seeking a difficult balance between uniting to support Ukraine and safeguarding the interests of local farmers. How the EU will implement precise policies in the next step to prevent the two from being completely opposed may face a greater test.