Europe

Poland bans imports of grain and other foods from Ukraine

Large amounts of cheap Ukrainian grains have remained in Central European states amid logistical bottlenecks as invasion by Russia continues

The bulk carrier Negmar Cicek is loaded with grain in the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, Odessa region, Ukraine, last month for transport to Yemen. Grain shipments from Ukraine had resumed on March 23rd last after a deal was struck with Russia. Photograph: Sergii Mukaieliants/AFP/Getty

Sat Apr 15 2023 - 14:24

The Polish government has decided to ban imports of grain and other food from Ukraine to protect the Polish agricultural sector, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczyński, said on Saturday.

Large quantities of Ukrainian grains, cheaper than those produced in the European Union, have ended up remaining in Central European states amid logistical bottlenecks, hitting prices and sales for local farmers.

This has created a political problem for the PiS in an election year.

“Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the entry, importation of grain into Poland, but also dozens of other types of food [from Ukraine],” Mr Kaczyński said during the PiS party convention.

READ MORE

[ How do you get 20m tonnes of grain out of Ukraine? ]

The list of these goods will be included in the government regulation, and there are goods “from grain to honey products, very, very many things”, he added.

Romanian farmers protest at the European Commission HQ in Bucharest, Romania, on April 7th, 2023, against what they called insufficient compensation from the EU over elimination of customs duties on goods from Ukraine. Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty

“We are and remain unchanged friends and allies of Ukraine. We will support her and we support her ... But it is the duty of every state, every authority, good authority in any case, to protect the interests of its citizens,” Mr Kaczyński said.

Poland, Mr Kaczyński added, was ready to start talks with Ukraine to settle the grain issue, and the Ukrainian side had already been notified of the decisions made. of the Polish government.

The decision has come despite strong support afforded to Ukraine by Poland since Russia’s invasion last year, and the visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Warsaw just last week along with his thanks for agreeing a “powerful defence package” to help his country. – Reuters

LATEST STORIES