EU ends duty-free trade with Ukraine, sets transition rules starting in June
Illustrative photo: Ukraine and the EU will trade under new rules (Getty Images)
The European Union has approved transitional rules for trade with Ukraine. They will come into effect starting June 6, reports PAP citing European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari.
Today, May 22, the European Commission adopted an implementing act that provides for temporary measures in trade with Ukraine. They will come into force on June 6, the day after the trade visa-free regime ends.
The decision was made under the committee procedure, approved by representatives of the member states in the committee operating under the European Commission.
Ujvari emphasized that the decision would be temporary - until a long-term agreement with Ukraine is concluded under the Association Agreement.
Without such temporary measures, trade between Ukraine and the EU would be conducted according to the rules that were in place before Russia's full-scale invasion.
Trade visa-free regime
The trade visa-free regime allows all Ukrainian goods to be imported tariffs-free into the EU.
The trade visa-free regime is valid until June 5 this year, but the bloc decided not to extend it amid dissatisfaction from Ukraine's neighboring countries.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said that the termination of the trade visa-free regime was one of his goals.
