Temporary Import Ban Due to Grain Oversupply
Ukraine Expresses Regret "No Fundamental Solution"
Poland and Hungary have announced a temporary ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products, sparking controversy both within and outside Europe. The two countries stated that after the war in Ukraine, they became alternative routes for grain exports, leading to an oversupply of grain, a sharp drop in agricultural product prices, and farmers' dissatisfaction, which prompted the import ban announcement. The Ukrainian government expressed regret, and the European Union (EU) strongly opposed the unilateral measures, stating they are unacceptable, raising concerns that this could negatively affect EU cohesion.
According to CNN on the 16th (local time), the governments of Poland and Hungary announced that they would impose a temporary import ban on Ukrainian agricultural products. This measure applies not only to agricultural products imported from Ukraine but also to goods transiting through their countries en route to third countries.
The Polish government said it would enforce the import ban for about two months until June 30, and the Hungarian government also announced it would implement a similar import ban. Jarosław Kaczy?ski, leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party, explained the background of the import ban, saying, "A widespread crisis in Poland's agricultural sector could occur," and "We must protect Poland's agricultural sector."
Previously, the two countries had served as alternative land routes after Russia blocked the Black Sea grain export routes, which are major grain export ports, following its invasion of Ukraine. As a result, grain oversupply worsened in both countries, causing agricultural product prices to plummet and farmers' dissatisfaction to surge. The backlash intensified especially because the EU applied duty-free benefits on Ukrainian agricultural products to support Ukraine's agricultural sector.
Ukraine publicly expressed regret over the import ban decision by the two countries. The Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture stated in a press release, "Unilateral and extreme measures will not help accelerate a positive resolution of the situation." Poland, as a neighboring country to Ukraine, has been the most active in providing military support against Russia's invasion, making the situation even more embarrassing for them.
The EU stated that it cannot tolerate the unilateral import ban measures by the two countries. The European Commission strongly opposed the decision, saying, "Trade policy is an exclusive competence of the EU, and unilateral actions are unacceptable," and "We have requested additional information from Poland and Hungary regarding this decision."
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