The Ukrainian delegation during the WTO ministerial conference held about two dozen bilateral talks on possible trade liberalization and removal of existing barriers, in particular, in trade in agricultural products, Deputy Economy Minister – Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka said.
“The main conclusion is that the world believes in Ukraine and is ready to open markets for Ukrainian products. This means that the world believes in our victory over the aggressor,” he wrote on Facebook after the conference.
Kachka also said that Ukraine has sent a request to the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) to update the free trade agreement, and it will be considered next week within the framework of the EFTA institute.
According to the trade representative, he discussed further steps to liberalize trade, having carried out preparatory work right at the conference, with Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng.
Kachka added that he agreed with the Minister of Trade of Australia in a few days after the conference to discuss in detail the possibilities of liberalizing bilateral trade (GSP and FTA).
The Ukrainian trade representative also said that he had discussed the conclusion of an agreement on digital trade with UK Secretary for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
“The same issue – trade liberalization and digital trade – were relevant in a conversation with the Minister of Trade of Singapore. Singapore is ready to become a hub for trade in Ukrainian products in Asia,” Kachka added.
According to him, at a meeting with the Minister of Trade of Senegal, he emphasized that Ukraine is doing everything to increase exports and feed Africa.
“Senegal is chairing the African Union this year and their understanding of the true causes of food problems is very important,” the Ukrainian trade representative said.
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, NORWAY, SWITZERLAND, TRADE LIBERALIZATION
On Monday, April 18, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrsky met foreign rescue colleagues who arrived in Borodyanka (Kyiv region).
According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, 11 professional rescuers from the United States, Australia and Germany have expressed a desire to come to Ukraine on a volunteer basis and help Ukrainian rescuers. In the near future, 1 more Polish representative will join the team.
It is noted that now they will work in Borodyanka, where they will be involved in dismantling the rubble and deblocking buildings.
The Australian Government has announced further military support to the Government of Ukraine in response to Russia’s relentless and illegal aggression and an additional A$26.5 million worth of A$26.5 million ($19.4 million at current exchange rates) for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“This brings Australia’s total military assistance to date to approximately A$191.5 million (approximately $143 million),” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defense Secretary Peter Dutton said in a joint press release. (Peter Dutton) Friday.
They indicated that the support is in addition to the $38 million worth of 20 Bushmaster armored personnel carriers that were announced free of charge to Ukraine earlier in the day.
The release clarifies that the government will not disclose specific details of the new aid package or delivery scheme at the direct request of Ukrainian officials and other partners.
“Our government will continue to identify opportunities for further military assistance where it can quickly provide the necessary capabilities to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Australia may be thousands of miles away, but we stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against this illegal incursion, providing weapons, equipment and even energy carriers,” the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Australia emphasized.
As reported, in addition to military support, Australia’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine at the end of March amounted to almost $50 million, as well as 70,000 tons of thermal coal.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on Australia to join the program for the restoration of the regions of Ukraine, in particular, the coast of the Black and Azov Seas.
We invite the leading states of the world, leading companies and the best specialists to join the project of restoring Ukraine. To take patronage over a region, city or industry in our country in need of restoration. Your state granted ours such a special status of a like-minded country. But we are not only related in our thoughts, we are also related in dreams. Therefore, I invite your country to take a closer look at our southern regions, at our coast of the Black and Azov Seas. The restoration of our ports, the development of cities like Kherson, the restoration of the Ukrainian maritime industry can be a special contribution to stability for you after this terrible war,” he said in a video message to the Australian Parliament on Thursday.
He also called on Australia to join in arms assistance to Ukraine. “You have excellent Bushmaster armored vehicles that can significantly help Ukraine. As well as other models of equipment and weapons that can strengthen our positions,” he said.
“And I hope that the Ukrainian community of Australia, our strong Ukrainian community, will join this work. It will support us now as strongly as in previous years,” Zelensky said.
Australia will provide Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government, with at least 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal to strengthen energy security, according to the Facebook page of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
“Australia is recognized internationally as a leading and reliable supplier of energy resources. We thank our Australian partners for helping Ukraine at this difficult time, when our state is resisting an illegal and brutal military invasion by Russia,” Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko said.
As noted in the message, the Australian government has worked with enterprises of the country’s coal industry to accumulate coal volumes, which will be the country’s contribution to providing Ukrainian consumers with reliable electricity. The cost of coal and its delivery will be covered by the Australian government.
Australia’s Whitehaven Coal will arrange the appropriate shipment. Now, along the government line, together with the Ukrainian side, the issue of prompt delivery is being worked out, the Ministry of Energy said.
The Australian authorities have decided to soon impose a ban on the import of oil, gas, coal and oil products from Russia, The Guardian reports on Friday, citing a representative of the Australian Foreign Ministry.
“This decision does not threaten Australia’s energy security. Australia has diversified and sustainable oil supply chains and adequate oil reserves thanks to the government’s comprehensive energy security policy,” he said.
The ban will take effect no earlier than in 45 days. In this regard, the representative of the ministry specified for The Guardian, ships carrying already paid energy carriers from the Russian Federation will be able to arrive for shipment in Australian ports.
He noted that Australia does not import these goods from Russia in significant volumes. At the same time, the diplomat expressed the opinion that since energy resources are the largest source of export earnings to the Russian Federation, restrictions on their acquisition by Australia and its allies will reduce Moscow’s ability to operate in Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a decree banning the import of oil, oil products, as well as liquefied natural gas and coal from Russia, which led to another jump in prices on the global energy market.
The British authorities also announced their intention to stop buying Russian oil within the next few months.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times said that the U.S. authorities are actively looking for new energy supplies after the refusal to import Russian oil, trying to prevent further growth in fuel prices at American gas stations.
