EU Threatens Ukraine with Higher Import Tariffs and Reduced Imports

Under pressure from farmers’ protests and election concerns in neighboring Poland, Brussels wants to limit tariff-free access and reintroduce import quotas for certain products. The European Commission has received the green light from EU countries to reinstate customs duties that had been previously lifted as of June 6.

This mainly concerns agricultural goods such as chicken, eggs, sugar, corn, and oats. These products have been exempt from import duties since 2022 but have met resistance within the EU, especially from neighboring countries of Ukraine.

Polish, Romanian, and Slovak farmers in particular have long protested the influx of cheap Ukrainian products. Nonetheless, Brussels continues to pursue a diplomatic approach. The European Commission keeps the door open to establishing a new trade agreement with Ukraine. This would precede a potential EU membership for the country and pave the way for closer economic cooperation.

In this context, multiple sources indicate new agreements could be reached within weeks. However, discussions are expected to wait until after the second round of the Polish presidential elections in early June, due to the sensitivity of the issue among Polish voters.

There is significant resistance in the Polish countryside against the pro-European and pro-Ukraine stance of the Tusk government. The influx of Ukrainian agricultural goods has led to tensions, blockades, and deep political divides. The government aims to ease social unrest through these EU arrangements.

Although Ukraine regrets the EU decisions, the country remains dependent on European export routes. The Ukrainian government has formally lodged protests and continues to advocate for exceptions or compensatory measures. For now, however, the EU appears determined to reverse the favorable trade regime.