The Association of Gardeners of the Republic of Poland has appealed to the Minister of Agriculture Robert Telusz with a request to take urgent measures to stop the import of strawberries from Ukraine, to limit it and subsequently stop it completely, reported the Polish edition sad24.pl.
“In connection with the information that has appeared in recent days about the import of large quantities of industrial strawberries from Ukraine to Poland, we asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to intervene and take urgent measures to stop the possible practice and its reduction – permanently stopped,” the publication quoted the website of the Association.
Polish gardeners insist on preventing a situation on the market similar to that of Ukrainian grains, when uncontrolled imports collapsed the market and caused a huge drop in prices.
The Association of Polish Gardeners insists on the introduction of a system of official quality control of each batch of fruit arriving in the country, especially for residues of plant protection products, and to suspend further trade of goods until the results of the examination.
Import of goods in Jan-Mar 2023 in most important positions to previous period 2021
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
Export of important goods from Ukraine in Jan-Mar 2023 in relation to 2022
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
According to customs statistics, promulgated by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Ukraine in the first five months of 2023 decreased imports of nickel and nickel products in 4.8 times compared to the same period of 2022 – up to $6.344 million (in May – $1.045 million).
Ukraine in 2022 reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 49.9% compared to 2021 – to $59.754 million.
Ukrainian enterprises in January-May this year increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 93.2% as compared to the same period last year – up to $47.614 million.
According to customs statistics, released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the export of copper and copper products for the period decreased by 27.5% – to $33.701 million.
In May, imported copper worth $10.122 million and exported – $6.399 million.
As reported, Ukrainian companies in 2022, imports of copper and copper products in value terms reduced by 64.3% compared to the previous year – up to $ 65.370 million, and their exports decreased by 56.3% – to $ 90.245 million.
Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) considers the continuation of the restrictive measures on import of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower from Ukraine to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria discriminatory and groundless and insists on the cancellation of this decision.
“Such prolongation will neither solve the problems of local markets nor improve the situation of local farmers,” said a statement published on the UCAB website on Monday.
The business association believes that the resolution prepared by the EU on the prohibition of the import of agricultural products from Ukraine to five neighboring EU countries, according to which the restrictions will be in force until September 15 this year, will have a negative impact on the economic recovery of Ukrainian farmers during the war.
Such decisions should be taken only after detailed studies and consultations with all EU member states because according to the latest data, some neighboring EU member states, such as Poland, were able to increase their export potential and domestic processing by importing cheaper Ukrainian agricultural products and improve their positions in livestock and finished products, the UCAB reminded.
The business association noted the negative influence of such a decision on the situation with sabotage of the “grain agreement” by Russia. “According to preliminary forecasts, the current steps to prohibit the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU may deepen the blackmailing of the Russians regarding the operation of the grain corridor,” the UCAB said.
Experts of business-association emphasized that Ukraine will have less export potential in 2023 season: export of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine is forecasted to decrease by one third to 46 million tons per year.
Existing trade restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products in five countries of the EU should be abolished. At the same time, it is worth conducting an open constructive dialogue between representatives of the Ukrainian and European agro-communities in order to find compromises, which will help both the EU and Ukraine to become stronger, summed up in UCAB.
