EU plans to abolish all duties on imports from Ukraine
At Ukraine’s request, the European Commission has offered a series of temporary trade liberalization measures that will allow Ukraine to maintain its trading position with the rest of the world and further deepen trade relations with the EU.
– These temporary and exceptional measures will support and facilitate existing trade flows from Ukraine to the European Union and will help Ukrainian producers, – the offer says.
The Commission stated that Russia’s invasion in Ukraine had a profound negative impact on Ukraine’s ability to trade with the rest of the world.
In order to mitigate the economic impact of the aggression, the Commission explains that it is appropriate and necessary to accelerate closer economic relations between the EU and Ukraine in order to provide prompt support to the Ukrainian authorities and Ukrainians.
The recommendation, which will be in effect for one year, will include the temporary suspension of all outstanding tariffs and the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the EU.
The offer of the Commission provides for the abolition of all tariffs, import duties on industrial products, as well as the reduction of quotas for agricultural and processed products.
In this offer, the Commission hopes that these measures will set the conditions for strengthening economic and trade relations with a view to gradually integrating Ukraine into the EU internal market.
– I had discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi about ways to support the economy, and today’s proposal will greatly facilitate the export of Ukrainian industry and agricultural products and goods to the EU, – Ursula von der Leyen said.
Now, the offer has to be signed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.