Five countries demand the introduction of a duty on grain from Ukraine: Hungary “distinguished itself”
Date: 2024-01-16 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: ECONOMY
The agriculture ministers of Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia called on the European Commission to “protect European farmers” and introduce an import duty on Ukrainian grain.
Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy said that they informed Brussels about changes in the dynamics of Ukrainian exports to the EU and their countries’ loss of markets for grains and oilseeds. Nagy states that farmers "in frontline countries" have suffered significant losses, so they need "help to cope with market disruptions caused by Ukrainian agricultural products."
“In recent years, farmers have become increasingly concerned about increasing exports from Ukraine, in addition to problems associated with high production costs, rising price and income risks, and unfavorable climatic conditions. The main reason for this is that Ukrainian agricultural products, which cheaper due to different production standards and farm sizes, being squeezed out of their traditional export markets,” the Hungarian minister said in a statement.
He called on Brussels to introduce tariffs “on the most sensitive agricultural products,” and also said that Ukrainian goods and agricultural products “often have questionable quality.”
“The five countries have a common position that Ukrainian agricultural exports do not have a negative impact on the European agricultural market. Therefore, Brussels must also ensure consistent application of EU agricultural standards to all products offered to European consumers. We call on the European Commission to provide a report on the compliance of production standards in Ukraine meets EU agricultural production standards," he added.
