Ukraine will withdraw claims to the World Trade Organization against neighboring countries if it receives guarantees that there will be no restrictions on grain exports in the future.
Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka announced this on the air of the telethon.
"It is very important for us that the Polish side and other states and the European Union guarantee us that such restrictions will not happen in the future... Therefore, of course, only when we receive guarantees will we formally announce to the whole world that this the dispute is over. I think this issue will be considered last," the official said.
According to him, it is now important to launch the agricultural production licensing mechanism, which Ukraine considers to be the most appropriate step to resolve the issue.
"Suits to the WTO, as we can see from the reaction of the partners, were quite the right step," Kachka added.
From May 2 to September 15, there was a ban on the free supply of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. The embargo was introduced because farmers from Poland and other countries went on protests. Farmers complained that Ukrainian grain was settling in the countries and was not being exported further, due to which the purchase prices for grain fell sharply.
What is the conflict?
On September 15, the European Commission lifted the ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, because Ukraine agreed to take measures within 30 days (in particular, the export licensing system) to avoid spikes in the price of grain. Despite the decision of the European Commission, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia (until the end of the year) unilaterally extended the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain.
On September 18, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine was informed that Ukraine has started legal proceedings due to the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
- On September 19, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine announced that Ukraine will ban the import of onions, tomatoes, cabbage and apples from Poland in the coming days. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned that his country is ready to extend the ban on the import of products from Ukraine if Kyiv escalates the conflict.
- On September 21, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine reported that Ukraine and Poland agreed to develop a cooperation plan regarding the export of Ukrainian grain. On September 24, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that his country would help Ukraine increase its grain exports, but would keep its market closed.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Slovakia said that Kyiv had promised Bratislava to withdraw the WTO lawsuit and not to introduce a ban on the import of Slovak agricultural products.