EU ends duty freedom for Ukraine: farmers in turmoil!

EU ends duty freedom for Ukraine: farmers in turmoil!

Polen, Land - The EU had expired on June 6, 2025 the trade advantages for Ukraine that had been in place for three years. These measures were originally decided in response to the Russian attack war to support the Ukrainian economy. At midnight Central European times, transitional regulations came into force until a new trade agreement is negotiated. In addition to the suspension of tariffs to Ukrainian goods that came into force 100 days after the war, there was also an extension of this regulation last year.

The debate about the trade advantages has gained intensity, in particular through the pressure of European farmers, who fear disproportionate competition from favorable agricultural imports from Ukraine. There were protests from the east of the EU, especially from Poland and France, where the demand for stricter customs rules became loud. Bernd Lange, the chairman of the Commercial Committee in the European Parliament, criticized that no solution was found before the trade releases.

new customs specifications for agricultural products

The EU plans to reintroduce tariffs to large amounts of certain Ukrainian agricultural products to support European farmers. These are products such as eggs, poultry, sugar, corn, oats, groats and honey. After the tariffs were exposed to Ukraine due to the Russian attack, the new rules are valid by June 2025 and still have to be formally approved by Parliament and the EU countries.

The agreement on these changes was reached in the night between the EU countries and the European Parliament. Affected farmers, especially in Poland, have already organized protests and block roads and roundabouts with tractors. According to the Polish authorities, actions are announced at up to 580 locations with up to 70,000 participants.

reactions from the EU

The EU Commission has also already decided to prevent wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds from Ukraine. These measures, which took effect on May 2, 2023 and applied until June 5, 2023, were necessary due to serious logistical bottlenecks in several Member States. The aim of the measures is to cushion the impact on local markets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The EU continues to work on a new trade agreement that takes into account the concerns of European farmers. By the end of 2025, according to an old trade agreement that has been applied since 2016, seven twelve quantities for products from Ukraine are available, but among applicable customs contingents.

The developments illustrate the challenges in front of which the EU is facing both to maintain support for Ukraine and to meet the needs of their own farmers. The situation remains tense and is still being observed closely to find a balance between economic aid for Ukraine and the protection of European agricultural interests.

Further details on the effects and regulations can be found in the reports of Weser-Kurier , Tagesschau and EU representation in Germany.