News
28.03.2024
Ukrainian farmers are concerned with prolonged debate around EU trade preferences rollover for Ukraine and the slide toward protectionism
The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) members are concerned with continuing tortuous discussions among the Member States regarding safeguard measures which would be applied to the key elements of the Ukrainian agricultural exports to Europe.
Extending the scope of safeguards to cereals and cereal preparations, honey, in addition to poultry, sugar and eggs, would breach a major hole in Ukraine’s export revenues, much needed in times of the drying Western financial support to the country’s budget and currency reserves. According to UCAB estimates, the potential losses, projected from the previous trialogue proposal at the level of up to 350 million EUR, would rise only further if the reference years for automatic triggering of the safeguards would include 2021.
It is puzzling and sad to see that in the absence of any convincing economic data in support of proposed safeguards, the decision is taken under overly political, protectionist driven considerations which totally miss the larger, tragic picture of a country, relying on its exports to support the fight for own survival.
The responsibility for Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability and hence resilience to fight a ruthless enemy lies now squarely in the hands of the EU Member States.
