Poland's new Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski is "principally opposed" to the extension of duty-free trade with Ukraine. He wrote about this in a letter to the European Commissioner for Trade, RMF FM reports.
Siekierski said that the complete liberalization of trade with Ukraine, introduced by the EU after the Russian invasion, had the "opposite effect", creating problems with excessive imports of cereals, sugar, poultry, eggs, soft fruits (especially frozen raspberries), and apple concentrate.
The minister proposes to exclude some of these products from free trade rules with enhanced protective provisions. And to start negotiations with Ukraine "on gradual mutual liberalization, accompanied by the gradual adaptation of Ukrainian agriculture to EU standards and legislation."
At the same time, Siekierski announced Poland's return to negotiations within the framework of the EU Coordination Platform, from which the previous government withdrew in protest against the EC's failure to extend the EU embargo on Ukrainian grain.
It is noted that Brussels is currently working on a regulation that will extend trade liberalization with Ukraine until June 2025.
