Wojciechowski cited corn, rapeseed, and poultry as examples. He said that not only Poland but also Romania and Bulgaria have seen a “problematic” increase in imports of sunflower oil from Ukraine.
A Commission report has shown that the EU has seen a “significant increase in imports of … poultry, eggs, milk powder, butter, sugars, starch, bran, and some grains.”
The remarks by the Polish commissioner directly contradict the official EU position to fully support unlimited food exports from Ukraine. Since Russian troops invaded the country in February, exports have been disrupted. In recent months, only limited exports have been possible via the traditional export route to the Black Sea.
Brussels therefore opened an alternative land route to the EU through so-called solidarity corridors and suspended all import duties on Ukrainian goods for one year. That agreement expires next summer, but the European Commission is considering extending it until the end of 2024.
Due to EU aid facilitating exports through EU corridors, many products initially arrive in large quantities in Poland. Polish grain traders have been complaining about unfair competition for several months now. French poultry farmers have also filed complaints with the EU about the huge quantities of Ukrainian poultry now appearing on the French market.
“I understand the concerns of the farmers and I see the problem,” Wojciechowski said. “The import of some agricultural products has indeed increased several times since trade with Ukraine was opened. Simply put, too many goods are coming in.”
Wojciechowski said that a decision on whether to impose tariffs on food products “will depend on many commissioners … but my opinion is that there is a problem. Where this export has clearly increased, I will advocate for imposing import restrictions.”