Poland stands at a crossroads in its trade discussions with Ukraine. A clear choice remains on the table: either Ukraine and Poland reach a bilateral agreement, or Poland will move to impose additional limits on Ukrainian imports, stated Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak on Tuesday.
During an appearance on Polsat News, Kołodziejczak addressed the possibility of a unilateral embargo on more agri-food products from Ukraine. He noted that Poland already bans certain Ukrainian staples, including wheat, corn, sunflowers, and rapeseed, and he emphasized that this policy could be expanded if negotiations fail to produce a satisfactory deal.
Kołodziejczak also mentioned that talks were planned between Minister Czesław Siekierski and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solski for the following day, signaling active diplomatic engagement as a path forward.
Today, the decision rests with Ukraine. If Kyiv chooses to cooperate, an agreement could be reached; if not, Poland could advance additional restrictions on imports, Kołodziejczak reiterated.
The deputy minister added that discussions with protesting farmers would start next week, underscoring the government’s objective to balance national economic interests with the concerns raised by agricultural producers.
On Tuesday, farmers across Poland organized protests, including blockades of roads, highways, and border crossings with Ukraine. The demonstrations reflected broad opposition to the surge of Ukrainian goods and to certain European Union policies linked to the Green Deal, which critics say undermine farm incomes and market stability.
Similar farmer protests have unfolded in several European nations over the past weeks, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Greece, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia. While some grievances are country-specific, many issues resonate across Europe, centering on market access, price supports, and regulatory burdens tied to EU agricultural policy.
Farmers particularly object to the perception that they must comply with stricter EU agricultural rules while producers outside the bloc face more lenient conditions when selling within the EU market. Protesters in Eastern Europe argue that Ukrainian imports enjoy favorable terms, with quotas and tariffs waived since the onset of the conflict. In Western Europe, attention has also turned to imports from Morocco and potential arrangements with South American suppliers as Europe contemplates future free trade deals, notably with Mercosur.
Protests across Europe
Participants in European farming protests criticized the EU’s climate and environmental targets, arguing these measures raise costs and add bureaucratic hurdles for European producers while non-EU competitors do not bear the same burden. They also pointed to what they see as excessive regulation at the EU level, which they claim stifles competitiveness and farmer resilience.
The EU’s move to liberalize trade with Ukraine began in June 2022 as Russia’s invasion escalated, with a one-year extension granted in mid-2023. Current discussions point to another extension that would last through June 2025, keeping Ukrainian products flowing under preferential terms but under increased scrutiny by member states eager to protect domestic markets.
During the European Championship season last year, a temporary ban on Ukrainian imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflowers was enacted by Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia following a regional agreement on Ukrainian agri-food products. Those restrictions were first set to end in early June, extended through mid-September, and later lifted by a European Commission decision on September 15, after which Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia renewed their own embargoes on Ukrainian farm goods. Kyiv responded by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization, arguing that the measures disproportionately affected local markets rather than transit trade.
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Source: wPolityce