Page 46 - UKRRptFeb24

Here are the restrictions for Ukraine in the new trade agreement with the EU. The latest draft agreement on trade preferences between Ukraine and the EU, which the European Commission plans to extend until June 6, 2025, provides restrictions on exporting Ukrainian sugar, poultry meat, and eggs to the European market.
It is noted that the new version of this agreement will be beneficial for Poland. It provides for two protection mechanisms: one for normal and the other for extreme market fluctuations. In the case of such volatility in connection with imports, for example, of Ukrainian grain, a "safety brake" will be implemented at the request of even one EU country. As of today, such a protective mechanism is possible only with the consent of all EU countries.
In addition, the decision to suspend the excessive import of agricultural products from Ukraine will be adopted more quickly since it will be approved only by the EC without the consent of all EU countries. Poland plans to maintain the embargo on Ukrainian products until all issues are resolved.
Romanian protesters end blockade, Ukraine’s border guard service says. Romanian protesters have ended their blockade at the Porubn e-Siret crossing along the Romanian-Ukrainian border, Border Guard Service reported. The crossing, which borders Chernivtsi Oblast, has been blocked intermittently since Jan. 13, as Romanian farmers and truck drivers cited high business costs.
Romanian farmers demand import limits on Ukrainian agricultural products, threaten more protests. Several Romanian farmers' organizations sent a joint letter to Romanian government officials demanding that the country advocate for import limits on Ukrainian agriculture products ahead of the upcoming meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Romanian outlet Digi24 reported on Jan. 21.
A grain transshipment terminal will be launched on the Ukrainian-Romanian border. Near the Romanian station of Dorneşti, located on the border with Ukraine, a grain cargo transshipment terminal will begin operations in February. It will be able to process a train on a 1,520 mm track, in six hours. Thus, four trains will be processed per day
The crisis in the Red Sea has hit Ukraine's agricultural exports. The situation in the Red Sea led to a 20% slowdown in Ukrainian farm exports in January 2024, said Minister of Agricultural Policy Mykola Solsky. At the same time, one of the world's largest shipping companies, Maersk, warns that the escalation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden could lead to disruptions in logistics worldwide.
Polish truckers unblock last crossing at Ukraine border. Earlier the same day, Polish truckers ended their blockade of two other checkpoints — Korczowa-Krakovets and Hrebenne-Rava Ruska, meaning the border is now fully unblocked. This followed an agreement between Warsaw and the Polish truckers, who said they would end their border blockade until March 1.
Bucharest meets some of protesting farmers' demands. The Romanian Agriculture Ministry agreed to meet several of the demands of the Romanian farmers who have been blocking the country's major roads and two crossings on the border with Ukraine, Euractiv reported on Jan. 16.
European farmers demand restrictions on Ukrainian imports and the redirection of grain to other countries. Six European agricultural organizations call on the EU to limit the import of Ukrainian products so as not to endanger the survival of European producers. In May 2022, the EU suspended customs duties on Ukrainian imports. However, organizations
46 UKRAINE Country Report February 2024 www.intellinews.com