Five European Union (EU) member states, namely Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, are pushing for an extension of the bloc’s ban on Ukrainian grain imports until the end of the year, according to Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus. The EU imposed the ban in May, allowing the five countries to prohibit domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds. However, transit of these goods through the five countries is still permitted. The ban is scheduled to expire on September 15.
One of the main concerns driving the push for an extension is the potential influx of Ukrainian supplies into the neighboring countries’ markets after the termination of the UN-brokered grain deal between Ukraine and Russia. This deal had allowed Ukrainian grain to be transported via the Black Sea. In response to these fears, Poland had already warned last month that it would impose its own unilateral ban if the EU failed to extend the restrictions. In April, Warsaw had indeed implemented a ban, leading the European Commission to reluctantly make it official.
During a news conference, Agriculture Minister Telus affirmed the support of the five countries for an extension of the ban until the end of the year. He emphasized that if this request is not met, some countries would introduce their own restrictions. Telus also stated that the agriculture ministers of the five countries agree on supporting grain transit subsidies and expanding the list of import bans to include other products, such as raspberries in the case of Poland.
However, this stance is not shared by a significant majority of the EU member states. Up to 20 out of 27 member states oppose the extension of the current ban on imports of certain Ukrainian goods through the five nations, as reported by RFM radio. It is worth noting that the EU had previously lifted import tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian products in order to provide financial support to Kiev. However, the influx of cheap grain resulting from this decision caused disruptions in Eastern European markets and triggered widespread protests by farmers.
In conclusion, while five EU member states are seeking an extension of the ban on Ukrainian grain imports until the end of the year, it is met with opposition from the majority of member states. The concerns about Ukrainian supplies flooding neighboring markets, combined with the termination of the grain deal with Russia, have sparked this push for an extension. However, the disagreement within the EU highlights the complexity of reaching a consensus on trade policies and the challenges of balancing various economic interests within the bloc.
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