Poland could become an important but controversial player in upcoming trade talks between Ukraine and the European Union. In particular, Poland's stance on tariff-free quotas for Ukrainian products could become an obstacle to the success of these negotiations, Politico reports.
Poland has consistently supported Ukraine in its war against the Russian Federation. Warsaw provides military aid, accepts refugees, and defends Kyiv's interests in the EU, but the trade issue is driving a wedge into the countries' relations.
Politico reports that Warsaw has a negative attitude towards Ukrainian agricultural exports. This tension casts a shadow over upcoming negotiations to replace temporary trade measures with a long-term agreement.
Ukraine's economic survival and its ability to repel Russia depend "now much more than ever" on preserving free trade with the EU, Agriculture Minister Vitaly Koval said.
Donald Tusk's failure to lift illegal restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products imposed by his predecessors has already become a stumbling block.
Warsaw, along with Hungary and Slovakia, is ignoring EU orders to open their markets, risking legal action from Brussels. The move underscores Poland’s reluctance to fully comply with EU directives, even under Tusk’s supposedly pro-European leadership.
Ahead of Poland's presidential election, Tusk will have to maintain a firm stance on agricultural issues to appeal to rural voters and counter opposition claims that he is too soft on Ukraine. His government's approach is likely to reflect a delicate balancing act between domestic priorities and EU solidarity.
The upcoming trade talks will focus on renewing the tariff-free quotas under the existing EU-Ukraine free trade agreement. This renewal is intended to replace the emergency measures, removing all tariffs on Ukrainian imports, which have been a lifeline for Ukraine’s economy since the full-scale Russian invasion.
However, these measures have provoked a backlash from the largest EU countries, such as Poland and France, as well as farmers in countries bordering Ukraine, who fear that the influx of cheap Ukrainian goods will negatively affect local producers.
In Poland, farmers have repeatedly blocked border crossings with Ukraine, slowing commercial traffic and risking disrupting the flow of humanitarian and military cargo. The blockades have broad public support in Poland.
In the upcoming update, Ukraine is expected to push for the greatest possible trade liberalization while maintaining broad market access for its agricultural exports. However, Poland is likely to favor a more restrictive approach, reflecting domestic concerns about the impact of Ukrainian products on its own farmers.
The latest protest action on the Ukrainian border began on the morning of November 23. The rally was supposed to last 48 hours. Media outlets, citing a source in the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, reported that the protesters were doing this only to put pressure on their own government.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Poland called the fact that the protest began on Holodomor Memorial Day a "particularly painful paradox.".
Later, Polish farmers decided to suspend the protest until December 10. By then, the Minister of Agriculture must respond to the demands.
