The current ban on the import of certain agri-food goods from Ukraine to the so-called frontier countries lasts until June 5. However, Oleg Nivyevskyj, head of the Food and Land Use Research Center of the Kiev School of Economics, believes that this is not the end of the restrictions.

“Although the decision has been announced for a month, the European Commission has made it clear that it is ready to continue. And the ban will continue, I believe. Because in a month’s time there will be a new season, new export volumes and the logistics of these countries will not be better, only worse. By the way, if they actually remove it in a month’s time, it will be illogical and will multiply by zero all the arguments as to why they are introducing the ban now,” the expert comments, according to Nivyevskyj as quoted by the Latifundist website.

The specialist does not hide his dissatisfaction with this state of affairs, arguing that for the five countries where restrictions have been introduced, agricultural production accounts for between 2 and 5% of GDP, while the Ukrainian economy almost relies on it (it accounts for almost 50% of Ukraine’s GDP). He also acknowledged that the decision would be an incentive for Russia to sabotage grain shipments in the Black Sea.

Nivyevskyj added that the European Commission’s communiqué does not say that Ukrainian goods undercut prices in countries with bans. He said there is also no data on the seizure of Ukrainian grain from warehouses in those countries. And, actually correctly, he noted that it was not Ukrainian companies that bought and built warehouses in the countries currently affected.

Source: Wrp.pl