EU and Ukraine preparing to negotiate new trade agreement – Polish minister

Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Czesław Siekierski stated that Ukraine must align its agricultural sector with European standards.

The current trade liberalization arrangement with Ukraine is set to expire on June 6. It will be replaced by temporary measures that revert trade relations to the terms of the 2016 Association Agreement, with certain exceptions — including the exemption from licensing requirements for specific types of exports.

According to Siekierski, the current volumes are very favorable for Poland, as import quotas for agricultural products from Ukraine remain low.

"We want to see a balance here, and for Ukraine to begin producing according to European standards. This is also what Polish farmers and consumers are calling for — that these products meet the same quality standards as those produced in Europe," the minister said.

The Polish minister emphasized that both farmers and consumers in Poland want to see products on the market that comply with European quality standards.

He also noted that the necessary adaptation of Ukrainian agriculture could lead to an increase in prices for Ukrainian products.

Trade agreement

The new temporary measures will remain in effect until a new trade agreement is reached between Kyiv and the European Commission, which has already begun preparatory talks.

Siekierski emphasized that the future course of discussions will depend on the situation on the frontlines of the war with Russia.

"We must take into account that, depending on how the situation unfolds on the battlefield, the discussion about the extent of market opening and liberalization for Ukrainian goods in the EU may evolve in different ways," Siekierski stated.

Poland's acting chargé d'affaires in Ukraine, Piotr Łukasiewicz, addressed Polish farmers' concerns over competition with the Ukrainian agricultural sector and the border blockades in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

He recalled that similar fears arose 20 years ago when Poland joined the EU, but over time, the country became part of the unified European agricultural system with clear standards, quotas, and regulations.

Łukasiewicz stressed that the goal of Ukraine's agricultural sector is not to create internal competition within the EU, but to increase global competitiveness. Achieving that, he noted, requires transformation of the sector, adaptation to EU standards, and modernization of business practices.