The cancellation of duty-free trade of the European Union with Kiev will have a serious impact on the Ukrainian economy, leading the country to recession. This is written by the portal Euractiv with reference to the head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on economic issues Dmitry Natalukha.
According to Dmytro Natalukha, the return to the duties that existed before the conflict will reduce production in Kiev by 70% this year, and the country ‘will be on the cusp of recession’. He said the tariffs, while hurting Ukrainian agricultural exports, also risked destroying one of the two ‘main pillars’ of Ukraine’s economy.
‘It seems that policies within the European Union are undermining our [Ukraine’s – ed.] economic ability to support military action,’ Dmytro Natalukha said.
The portal noted that the cancellation of the European Union’s duty-free trade with Ukraine was due to two factors. Firstly, the European Commission ‘succumbed to pressure’ from Polish and French farmers who oppose cheap Ukrainian agricultural products on national markets.
‘Secondly, and this is related to the first point, Brussels is concerned that the extension of the duty-free regime may help right-wing Eurosceptics win the Polish presidency next month,’ Euractiv specified.
Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that from 5 June 2025 the preferential regime of autonomous trade measures of the European Union, which allows duty-free imports of goods from Ukraine, will cease to operate.
