Brussels to extend Ukraine trade benefits by a year
Commission Berlaymont building - Photo © European Union 2023
BRUSSELS)- The EU is set to renew the suspension of import duties, quotas and trade defence measures on Ukrainian exports to the European Union - known as the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) - for another year.
This continues what has been unwavering support from the EU for Ukraine's economy and helps alleviate the difficult situation faced by Ukrainian producers and exporters because of Russia's military aggression.
"Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression is severely affecting the Ukrainian economy," said Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. She added that the Commission had made the decision to renew the suspension of duties and trade defence measures "as a signal of our continued political and economic support. We stand by Ukraine in these dire times."
The main objective of the ATMs is to support Ukraine, but the measures are also mindful of EU industry concerns. They have been in force since June last year, and have ensured that trade flows from Ukraine to the EU have remained remarkably stable in 2022 despite the disruptions caused by the war and against the general trend of a strong decrease of Ukraine's trade overall.
To this end, and bearing in mind a significant increase in imports of some agricultural products from Ukraine to the EU in 2022, the renewed ATMs contain an expedited safeguard mechanism to protect the Union market if necessary.
The proposal will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union with a view to ensuring seamless transition from the current regime of ATMs to the new one.
Also today, on the occasion of the one-year commemoration of the Ukraine invasion, the main building of the European Commission, the Berlaymont, was illuminated with the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Monitoring of imports from Ukraine subject to trade liberalisation measures