Poland and other countries are facing renewed conflicts with the European Union over Ukrainian agricultural products

The European Union decided on the 15th not to extend the ban on the sale of four Ukrainian agricultural products exported to Poland and other countries. Poland and other countries immediately stated that they will continue to enforce the ban in order to protect the interests of their own farmers.

After the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis last year, a large amount of Ukrainian agricultural products were transported to other regions through Central and Eastern European countries. However, due to unresolved transportation and other follow-up issues, most of them could only be sold in these Central and Eastern European countries, causing an impact on local agricultural products and triggering protests from farmers in many countries. In May, the European Union agreed to five countries, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, to ban Ukrainian agricultural products such as wheat and corn from entering its market for sale, only for transit exports. This ban was extended and will expire on September 15th.

Poland and other countries have repeatedly called for the extension of the ban, expressing support for the transit export of Ukrainian agricultural products, but hoping that the EU will clarify relevant mechanisms to avoid harming the agricultural interests of countries along the route.

However, the EU ultimately decided on the 15th not to extend the ban. According to the Associated Press, the European Commission has determined that the "market distortion" caused by Ukrainian agricultural products no longer exists. In addition, Ukraine has agreed to take measures to control the export of agricultural products such as wheat to neighboring countries starting from the 16th.

I am currently unclear about the specific measures taken by the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky welcomed the EU decision.

According to Reuters, as the harvest season approaches, issues related to agricultural products are particularly sensitive. The Executive Vice Chairman of the European Commission in charge of economic affairs, Valdis Dombrovskis, called on Poland and other countries not to take unilateral measures.

However, Polish Prime Minister Mattaeus Moravitsky announced at a campaign rally on the 15th that the Polish government will continue to enforce bans on Ukrainian agricultural products passing through the country "because it is in the interest of Polish farmers.". Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus stated that the scope of Ukrainian agricultural products affected by the ban will also be expanded.

The Slovak government has decided to extend the enforcement ban until the end of 2023 to protect the Slovak market from excessive pressure and protect the interests of farmers. Hungary also stated that it will expand the scope of the ban.

Romania expressed regret over the EU decision and stated that it will decide how to best protect the interests of farmers after Ukraine issues relevant control measures. Bulgarian lawmakers agreed on the 14th to resume import measures for Ukrainian agricultural products.

Ukraine welcomes Bulgaria's decision and calls on other countries to end the ban, stating that further restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products will only endanger the stability of the global agricultural market.

On the other hand, Ukraine and Russia signed agreements with Türkiye and the United Nations respectively last July for 120 days on the export of Ukrainian agricultural products through Black Sea ports. The agreement was extended three times in November last year, March this year, and May. On the day it expired on July 17th, Russia notified the other three parties that it would not be extended. At present, negotiations among multiple parties on resuming the agreement for the export of agricultural products from the Black Sea port are still ongoing. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that if the agreement on lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural exports is fully implemented, Russia is willing to consider the possibility of immediately restoring the agreement.