EU, Ukraine Finalize Long-Term Agricultural Trade Deal

The European Union and Ukraine have reached a long-term trade agreement that replaces the wartime trade liberalisation measures introduced in 2022, reintroducing quotas and tariffs for Ukrainian agri-food exports. The deal establishes a three-tiered quota system: modest increases for sensitive products like eggs, poultry, and sugar; higher quotas for items such as butter and oats based on recent import peaks; and full liberalisation for products like fermented milk and grape juice. In exchange, Ukraine will open its market further to EU products and commit to aligning its agricultural standards with those of the EU, including animal welfare and pesticide regulations, by 2028. The agreement includes safeguard clauses allowing either side to restrict imports if market disruptions occur, and will be regularly reviewed. Critics claim the deal's finalization was delayed to avoid upsetting EU farmers before key elections. Final quota details and volumes are pending disclosure and require approval from EU member states.