Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced that Poland will unilaterally block the import of agricultural produce from Ukraine, starting at midnight. This decision comes after learning that the European Union (EU) has decided to lift the ban that was imposed in May to protect farmers in several member states.
Morawiecki had previously threatened to block Ukrainian grain, stating that Poland will not allow it to flood their market. The timing of this announcement is notable as the Polish general election is scheduled to take place next month, and the ruling party has been trying to portray the opposition as being subservient to the EU.
Morawiecki made his announcement during a campaign event in Elk, stating, “What we will do now, we will extend this ban, despite the disagreement of the European Commission.” He also accused the opposition Civic Platform of seeking permission from Brussels and still facing rejection.
The EU had imposed a temporary moratorium on the import of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia in May. This decision overrode the bans already implemented by these countries. The farmers in these five member states had been protesting the disruption caused by Ukrainian exports, as Brussels lifted tariffs on Kiev to support President Vladimir Zelensky’s war effort.
The EU ban allowed Ukrainian products to be transported through these countries but not sold or stored there. While it was initially set to expire in June, it was extended until mid-September.
Last week, Zelensky insisted on letting the ban expire, arguing that any other outcome would be a betrayal of European values. He even threatened to take the EU to the World Trade Organization for arbitration.
In response to Poland’s decision, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia have also announced plans to reinstate their own bans on Ukrainian agricultural imports. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated in a radio appearance on Friday that they are prepared for a “serious fight in Brussels.” Orban criticized the EU’s justification for the “grain corridors,” stating that the Ukrainian products were supposed to feed hungry people in Africa but ended up being bought by European speculators at low prices.
Orban described the entire situation as a “scam,” noting that the poor African children did not benefit from this grain. While Ukrainian grain can still transit through Hungary, Orban emphasized that it cannot stay there or in Europe.
The decision by Poland and other countries to block Ukrainian agricultural imports highlights the ongoing tensions and disagreements within the EU regarding trade policies and support for domestic farmers. This move also reveals the growing skepticism among certain member states towards the EU’s decisions and their willingness to assert their own national interests. The implications of these actions on the relationship between the EU and Ukraine, as well as the future of agricultural trade within the bloc, remain to be seen.
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