08:27 19/09/2023
Ukraine has filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Slovakia, Poland and Hungary over their decision to ban food imports from Kiev.
"Such restrictions are a violation of international obligations by Ukraine's EU neighbors."
Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year closed all major Black Sea shipping lanes and forced Ukraine to find alternative land routes. In turn, this led to large amounts of grain ending up in Central Europe.
Farmers in those countries have held protests several times, saying that shipments of Ukrainian grain in large quantities and at low prices were distorting local markets.
The pressure led the 27-member EU bloc to agree earlier this year to trade restrictions on Ukrainian imports to Hungary, Poland, Slovakia as well as Bulgaria and Romania until September 15. On the day of the deadline, the European Commission decided not to extend the ban.
On the other hand, the governments in Budapest, Warsaw and Bratislava opposed the Commission's move by announcing their own restrictions.
"It is extremely important for us to prove that individual member states cannot stop imports of Ukrainian goods. That is why we are filing a lawsuit against them (Slovakia, Poland and Hungary) at the WTO," said the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko.
Svyrydenko added that Ukrainian exporters had suffered and continue to suffer significant losses due to unilateral bans. The European Commission has repeatedly stated that it is not up to individual EU members to make trade policy for the bloc.
Poland, Hungary and Slovakia are still allowing Ukrainian wheat to transit from their countries to other markets.tvklan.al
