Slovakia bans Ukrainian grain import until end of year
Slovakia has banned the import of Ukrainian grain until the end of the year (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The government of Slovakia has imposed a ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds from Ukraine. The ban will be in effect until the end of the year, according to the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Ľudovít Ódor.
"It (the ban - Ed.) will be in effect until the end of the year on the same four products: wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower. We need to prevent excessive pressure on the Slovak market to remain fair to domestic farmers," emphasized Ódor.
He states that this step is also a response to the same approach taken by Poland and Hungary.
According to the Prime Minister, the Slovak government will continue to work intensively with the European Commission and EU member countries to find a solution. emphasizes that Slovakia is ready to lift the ban once the issue is resolved.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Slovakia explained that the restrictions were introduced to protect the market but do not apply to transit of Ukrainian goods.
Background
In May 2023, the European Union allowed five countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia) to impose a ban on the sale of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds on their domestic markets.
Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal announced that Ukraine would turn to the World Trade Organization's arbitration over Poland's decision to extend the grain import ban.
Yesterday, the EU lifted restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports, but Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia have imposed a ban at the national level.
