EU Suspends Free Imports of Ukrainian Honey Amid Trade Concerns
The European Commission announced on August 20 that imports of Ukrainian honey have surpassed the threshold established in the regulation that provides trade benefits to Ukraine, leading to the reintroduction of tariff quotas.
In response to the Russian invasion, the European Union implemented autonomous trade measures in 2022 to eliminate tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports in order to support the country’s agrifood sector. These trade benefits were extended for an additional year in June and set import limits for seven sensitive products: eggs, poultry, sugar, oats, maize, groats, and honey.
On Tuesday, the EU confirmed that honey has now reached its import limit, activating the emergency brake. The maximum allowable import volume for honey in 2024 is set at 44,417.56 tonnes, based on averages from the second half of 2021 to 2023. Effective immediately, Ukrainian honey imports will now fall under the tariff quotas established in the 2016 EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). However, the European Commission indicated that imports of honey from Ukraine have already gone beyond the volumes specified in the DCFTA.
Any additional shipments will face most-favoured nation (MFN) duties, as noted in the Commission’s announcement. A new tariff quota of 18,507.32 tonnes will come into effect for honey from January 1 to June 30, 2025.
Currently, poultry and maize are the only products that remain within their import limits under the autonomous trade measures framework, though both have reached nearly 70% of their maximum quotas.
The extension of trade benefits for Ukraine’s agrifood sector has sparked controversy and took several months of negotiation. Farmers across Europe, particularly in countries bordering Ukraine—Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria—have expressed concerns over an influx of Ukrainian agricultural products in the EU. This has led to calls for stronger safeguards. A coalition of EU nations, spearheaded by France and Poland, has also advocated for increased protection measures.
In June, the Commission described the agreement reached by EU lawmakers as a balanced solution to address the legitimate concerns of farmers and member states.
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John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.