EU to extend duty exemption for Ukrainian exports for another year
A European parliament's committee has approved extending for another year the exemption of duties for Ukrainian exports, introduced amidst Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.
MEPs are set to vote for the European commission’s proposal during the 8-11 May plenary session, and the Council of the EU also has to approve the initiative, the European parliament said in a statement.
Once approved by the two bodies, the measure will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and apply on the day following its publication.
"The suspension of tariffs applies to fruits and vegetables subject to the entry price system (a minimum price threshold above which 15 types of imported fresh fruits and vegetables must be sold in the EU), as well as agricultural products and processed agricultural products subject to tariff-rate quotas," the EU’s parliamentary body said.
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Ukrainian exports of industrial goods have been exempt from duties since the start of this year under the EU-Ukraine association agreement, and are therefore not included in the proposal.
"These measures are crucial for strengthening Ukraine's resilience. Ukraine's future lies in the European Union," Sandra Kalniete, an MEP who brought the EU commission’s proposal to the European parliament, was quoted as saying.
The EU’’s exemption of Ukrainian imports from duties was one of the three most significant factors that had a positive impact on the Ukrainian investment climate last year, the European Business Association said in a statement.
Ukraine is the bloc's 15th largest trading partner, accounting for about 1.2 percent of the EU's total trade.
