Ukraine has officially filed complaints with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, citing their bans on food imports from Ukraine. This move was disclosed by Yulia Svyrydenko, the first deputy prime minister, during an announcement in Kyiv on Monday.
Svyrydenko emphasized that Ukraine perceives these restrictions as a breach of the international commitments of the European Union member states. She stated, “It is of paramount importance for us to establish that individual member nations cannot unilaterally prohibit the import of Ukrainian goods. This is the reason we have initiated legal actions through the WTO.”
While pursuing these complaints, she expressed hope that these countries would reconsider their restrictions, eliminating the necessity for prolonged legal disputes. She remarked, “We seek solidarity and aim to protect the interests of our farmers.”
The imposition of restrictions by the three countries on Ukrainian grain imports followed the European Commission’s decision not to extend its ban on imports into the five EU Eastern European member states of Ukraine.