Politics

Poland, Hungary ban grain and food imports from Ukraine

WARSAW, April 15 (Reuters) – Poland and Hungary have determined to ban imports of grain and different food from neighbouring Ukraine to guard the native agricultural sector, the 2 governments mentioned on Saturday, after a flood of provide depressed costs throughout the area.

Ukraine expressed remorse concerning the Polish resolution, saying that “resolving various issues by unilateral drastic actions will not accelerate a positive resolution of the situation”.

After Russia’s invasion blocked some Black Sea ports, giant portions of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than that produced within the European Union, ended up staying in Central European states as a consequence of logistical bottlenecks, hitting costs and gross sales for native farmers.

In a letter to the European Commission final month, the prime ministers of 5 japanese European nations mentioned the size of the rise in merchandise like grains, oilseeds, eggs, poultry and sugar had been “unprecedented”, and mentioned tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural imports ought to doubtlessly be thought of.

The influence of the oversupply has created a political drawback for Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) in an election yr, with the economic system mired in stagflation.

“Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the entry, importation of grain into Poland, but also dozens of other types of food (from Ukraine),” PiS chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski mentioned throughout a celebration conference.

The listing of those items, which can vary “from grain to honey products, very, very many things”, shall be included within the authorities regulation, he added.

Ukraine’s ministry of agrarian coverage and food mentioned the Polish ban contradicted current bilateral agreements on exports, and known as for talks to settle the problem.

“We understand that Polish farmers are in a difficult situation, but we emphasize that Ukrainian farmers are in the most difficult situation right now,” it mentioned in a press release.

Later on Saturday nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s authorities joined the ban, saying the established order would trigger extreme harm to native farmers.

Hungary didn’t give particulars on when its ban on grain and different food imports would go into impact, however mentioned it can expire on the finish of June.

Poland’s Kaczynski mentioned: “We are and remain unchanged friends and allies of Ukraine. We will support her and we support her. … But it is the duty of every state, every authority, good authority in any case, to protect the interests of its citizens.”

Kaczynski mentioned Poland was prepared to begin talks with Ukraine to settle the grain challenge.

Hungary’s authorities mentioned it hoped for adjustments in regulation on the EU degree, together with a re-thinking of the elimination of import duties on Ukrainian produce.

Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz
Editing by Mark Potter

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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