Ukraine Sues Poland, Hungary, And Slovakia Over Grain

Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, three countries that said no to Ukrainian grain to protect their own markets, now face a lawsuit from Kiev.

Ukraine has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against three countries that have banned the import of grains and other food products. The ban was caused by low prices, while Kiev considered this a “violation of international treaties.”

In the context of the conflict and difficulties in delivery across the Black Sea, the EU has already canceled duties on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. This caused protests from neighboring countries, whose markets suffer from distortions due to low prices for grain, in particular Ukrainian grain.

The European Union previously allowed Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to limit imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds from Ukraine, but the agreement has expired. Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary have maintained restrictions on these imports.

Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas (his country currently holds the EU presidency) explained that “it is a mistake and also incompatible with EU law for some member states to take unilateral measures.”

The European Commission on Friday noted the normalization of exports and announced that it would not extend restrictions and that Ukraine was committed to taking the necessary measures to avoid undesirable consequences. “But some member states have announced steps starting today that, in my opinion, are inconsistent with EU law,” concluded Planas.