Economy Minister explains why Ukraine filed a WTO lawsuit against three countries over Ukrainian grain
Kyiv believes that unilateral actions of EU member states in the field of trade are unacceptable
Ukraine has filed lawsuits with the WTO against Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, which banned imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Source. This was reported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
"It is of fundamental importance for us to prove that individual member states cannot ban imports of Ukrainian goods," said First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.
Svyrydenko expressed hope that states will lift their restrictions on Ukraine and then there will be no need to settle the issue in courts.
"We need solidarity with them and protection of farmers' interests," the Economy Minister emphasized.
Ukraine sees this as a violation of its international obligations by the three EU countries.
Also, the Ukrainian side believes that unilateral actions of the EU member states in the field of trade are unacceptable and all member states of the bloc should coordinate and harmonize trade policy, as it is the exclusive competence of the EU.
It was also reported that Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas Pujades said that a unilateral ban on imports of Ukrainian grain by any EU member state is illegal, but the European Commission should judge this.
On Friday, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own bans on imports of Ukrainian grain after the European Commission decided not to extend the restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Background. As a reminder, farmers in Bulgaria are protesting against imports of agricultural products from Ukraine.
