The Republic of Moldova on Friday officially notified the European Union of its intention to introduce temporary restrictions on the import of grain and oil crops from Ukraine, reports EFE agency and TVR Moldova TV channel, citing Agerpres.

Wheat harvest in Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) in 2020Photo: Ukrinform / Avalon / Profimedia

The message was sent by the Vice Prime Minister of Moldova, Volodymyr Bolea, to the EU Ambassador in Chisinau, Yanis Mazheiks. “Volodymyr Bolea informed the diplomat about the intention of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry to temporarily apply measures identical to the EU (in some EU countries) regarding the import of grain and oilseeds originating from Ukraine,” the message reads. issued by this Ministry.

Vice Prime Minister Bolea also explained to Ambassador Majeix that the government of Chisinau is preparing a package of measures to support the competitiveness of the agricultural sector of the Republic of Moldova.

To help Ukraine after Russia launched a war against the country last February, the EU suspended tariffs and other trade protection measures applied to Ukrainian grain and other food imports.

On the other hand, large volumes of Ukrainian grain that were transiting to Eastern European states only through the “solidarity corridors” (created to help Ukraine export grain after it could no longer use its ports from the Black Sea) remained in these countries, where they are sold below the prices that local producers can offer, this is also a result of the fact that Ukrainian grain was not imposed by Brussels to meet European quality standards.

In this regard, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria temporarily banned the import of some Ukrainian agricultural products, especially grain.

Last week, the European Commission reached an agreement with these four countries, as well as Romania, to guarantee the transit of Ukrainian grain in exchange for “exceptional safeguard measures” applied to four Ukrainian agricultural products, namely wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds.

Read also:

  • Cereal imports from Ukraine are limited until June 5 to Romania and 4 other EU countries – Decision of the European Commission
  • Zelensky said that the ban on grain imports by several EU countries “gives dangerous hopes to the Kremlin”

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