Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers
Process in Brief
Parliament negotiators reached a provisional agreement to renew the temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports, extending duty-free access under the autonomous trade measures to 5 June 2025. The agreement also enables the Commission to impose measures should significant disruption to the EU market or national markets occur.
What Is at Stake
The measure balances continued trade support for Ukraine amid Russia’s war of aggression with protections for EU farmers by providing an emergency brake for particularly sensitive agricultural products and faster action timelines. The emergency brake explicitly covers poultry, eggs and sugar and was expanded by MEPs to include oats, maize, groats and honey, with a commitment from the Commission to act if there is a surge in wheat imports.
Timeline
Parliament and the Council must both give their final green light, the current suspension expires on 5 June 2024 and the new regulation would enter into force immediately after that expiry.
Sources
Official Documents
- Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers The EP-backed deal extends the duty-free treatment for Ukrainian agricultural imports until 5 June 2025, with an expanded emergency brake and faster trigger actions, awaiting final approval by Parliament and Council.
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