Unilateral action by EU member states on trade is unacceptable, a European Commission spokesperson said on Sunday after Poland and Hungary announced bans on grain and other food imports in from Ukraine to protect the national agricultural sector.
Recall that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine blocked some Black Sea ports, a large amount of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than that produced in the EU, ended up in European countries center due to logistical bottlenecks, which affected prices and sales by local farmers.
The issue has created a political problem in an election year for Poland’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which enjoys the support of rural residents.
“We are aware of statements by Poland and Hungary regarding the ban on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine,” the EU spokesperson said in a statement. “In this context, it is important to underline that trade policy falls within the exclusive competence of the EU and that unilateral action is therefore unacceptable.”
“In these difficult times, it is extremely important to coordinate and harmonize all decisions within the EU,” the statement said.
Poland’s ban, which came into effect on Saturday evening, will also apply to the transit of such products through the country, the country’s development and technology minister said on Sunday.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food said on Saturday that the Polish ban violated existing bilateral export agreements and called for talks to resolve the issue.
Ukraine exports most of its agricultural products, mainly grain, through its Black Sea ports, which were unblocked in July under an agreement between Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and the UN .
About 3 million tonnes of grain leave Ukraine each month through the Black Sea Grain Corridor, while only 200,000 tonnes are transported to European ports via Polish territory, according to Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry.
Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said over the weekend that between 500,000 and 700,000 tonnes of various agricultural products cross the Polish border each month, including grain, vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, meat and other products.
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