The Prime Minister of Poland spoke out against extending the preferential trade regime for Ukraine

It is expected that today the European Commission will propose extending the suspension of tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian imports until June 2025 to help support Ukraine’s economy. However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk maintains a protectionist stance similar to the previous government and intends to oppose the EC’s proposal.

This was reported by the British publication Financial Times.

Poland’s position will not impact the outcome of the European Commission’s vote, as the decision is made by a majority vote. The Polish Prime Minister is trying to strike a delicate balance between his pro-European agenda and the interests of Polish farmers and carriers who want to maintain the import ban. Since November, they have been blocking the country’s border crossings with Ukraine to compel the government to meet their demands.

In the coming days, Tusk will visit Kyiv in an attempt to ease tensions caused by the border blockade and reach a compromise on the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain, which the previous government imposed last spring. He urged Ukraine to help ease tensions with Polish farmers and truck drivers rather than demand Poland to lift the import ban.

Poland’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Michal Kolodziejczak, stated that the government does not agree to the EU resuming preferential trade conditions for Ukraine because it poses a threat to Polish farmers.

“The interests of Polish farmers, our food security, and profitable production are a priority,” said Kolodziejczak.

According to officials, Tusk aims to negotiate an export licensing system deal with Ukraine, similar to the agreements reached with Romania and Bulgaria, which restricted the flow of Ukrainian agricultural products into their countries.