OREANDA-NEWS  Brussels has decided not to extend the duty-free import of goods from Ukraine to the European Union after June 5. This was announced by RIA Novosti, citing a spokesperson for the European Commission, Olof Gilla.
At a press conference, Gilla stated that the Commission is currently exploring alternative forms of support for Ukraine instead of the current duty-free import regime, which has been in place since 2022.

"It is important to note that we do not plan to extend this mechanism beyond its expiration date," he clarified.
The primary reason for the introduction of a duty-free regime for Ukrainian goods in 2022 was the disruption of ports due to the ongoing conflict, which prevented goods from being exported by sea. Once Ukraine was able to resume maritime exports, the need for the goods to transit through the European Union diminished.

The European Union's top officials have vowed to replace the duty-free arrangement with Ukraine with a duty-free regime. The negotiations must be finalized by June 5, the date of the regime's termination, to ensure a seamless transition between the regimes. However, sources indicate that these deadlines are considered too tight.

Two European diplomats have suggested that the European Commission has delayed the decision to liberalize duties for Ukraine due to the upcoming elections in Poland, which are scheduled for May 18. Farmers in Poland are concerned about competing with Ukrainian agricultural products, and the possibility of new tax breaks could influence the election results.