Market access

Ukraine will increase quotas volumes for pork, poultry and sugar and will eliminate or reduce its tariffs on goods imported from the EU. For its part, the EU will further open its market to Ukrainian products, compared to before the war, while fully taking into account the sensitivities of certain EU agrifood sectors. This means that tariff rate quotas will be maintained for sensitive products while trade of less sensitive products or categories in which EU and Ukraine are complementary will be increased or even fully liberalised in some cases. A summary of the market access granted to Ukraine is in the Table below.

Alignment of production standards

The additional market access foreseen is conditional on Ukraine aligning with relevant EU production standards by 2028 e.g. on animal welfare, use of pesticides and veterinary medicines. Ukraine is expected to report every year on its progress in that regard.

Safeguards

A robust safeguard clause providing the possibility for both sides to adopt appropriate measures in situations where imports may cause adverse effects to either party. For the EU, the assessment of a possible disturbance can be done at the level of one or more Member States.

Review clause

With the dynamic nature of trade relations between the EU and Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU single market, the agreement in principle includes a clause to review the situation, especially in the context of its progress in economic integration and its accession prospects.

Next steps?

Once the details of the review have been stabilised, the Commission will adopt a proposal for a Decision of the Council, for the Council to endorse the agreement. The agreement will then be formally adopted by the EU-Ukraine Association Committee in Trade Configuration.