() — Poland and Hungary banned imports of grains and other food products from Ukraine after the increase in the price of these products.
Poland’s prime minister’s office said the move was “to protect the Polish agricultural market against destabilization.”
Ukraine responded by saying that it “regretted the decision of its Polish counterparts” and that it was ready to cooperate with Poland in an investigation into possible abuses.
Hungary’s Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced on Sunday that Budapest will also temporarily ban the import of grains, oilseeds and other agricultural products from Ukraine, saying the move is necessary “in the absence of significant measures from the European Union.” .
The European Commission condemned the move, stating that it is not up to each member to decide trade policy.
“It is important to underline that trade policy is the exclusive competence of the EU and therefore unilateral actions are not acceptable,” Arianna Podestà of the Commission told .
When Russia invaded the Ukraine, it blocked the ports and shipping lanes used to export Ukrainian grain to Africa and the Middle East.
Fearing widespread famine, the European Union lifted tariffs on grain from Ukraine to make it easier to distribute to those world markets.
Since then, Ukrainian grains have entered Poland, but much of it has stayed in the country, driving down the price and causing significant economic losses to the polish farmers.
Farmers across Central and Eastern Europe have demonstrated against Ukrainian grain imports.
Protesters blocked traffic and border controls with tractors along the Romanian-Bulgarian border in an effort to prevent Ukrainian trucks from entering their country.
Police and border guards protect a train carrying Ukrainian grain at the broad gauge railway crossing in Hrubieszow, Poland on April 12, 2023. (Credit: Attila Husejnow/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)
Local growers claim they cannot compete with the price of Ukrainian beans and have demanded compensation from the European Commission.
Anger grew after the European Commission announced a draft decision to extend imports of Ukrainian grain free of tariffs and quotas until June 2024, prompting the resignation of the Polish agriculture minister.
There has been similar opposition in Bulgaria, where growers have complained about warehouses full of produce they cannot sell.
“Bulgaria is in solidarity with Ukraine, but a local glut is being created in the agricultural market, because instead of export corridors our countries are turning into warehouses,” Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Yavor Gechev said.
