Ukraine plans to seek World Trade Organization support after Polish officials indicated a ban on Ukrainian grain imports. The information was shared by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denis Shmygal on social media, specifically on X formerly known as Twitter. Ukraine emphasizes that it does not aim to harm Polish farmers and deeply appreciates the backing of Polish families and the broader public. Nevertheless, if trade rules are violated for political reasons ahead of elections, Ukraine reserves the right to pursue arbitration at the WTO to seek compensation for damages arising from breaches of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade norms.
On September 12, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that Warsaw would not act against the EU decision on Ukrainian grain imports and would not unilaterally impose limits on agricultural product imports. Bloomberg reported, citing Taras Ka chka, Ukraine’s deputy economy minister, that Kyiv stands ready to file a WTO complaint if Poland imposes a unilateral ban on Ukrainian grain.
Earlier, Poland’s agriculture minister Robert Telus indicated that Poland along with Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia had discussed appealing to EU leaders to request a ban on Ukrainian grain imports by the end of 2023. In another development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested a potential case before the European Union Court should the situation escalate.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions over agricultural trade within the region and how member states navigate cross border grain movements while balancing political pressures and legal frameworks. Stakeholders note that any escalation would involve complex disputes under WTO rules and EU market access policies, with potential implications for farmers, exporters, and regional supply chains. Attribution: Bloomberg and official government communications.