Polish farmers protest EU trade pact with South America.
Polish farmers are blocking the border with Ukraine at Medyka. This time, they’re not protesting Ukrainian grain imports. Instead, they’re opposing an upcoming trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries.
The farmers blocked the border last winter to protest Ukrainian grain imports. They were unhappy that grain was being shipped into Poland after Russia blocked Ukraine’s sea ports. The protests lasted until April and caused problems for both Polish-Ukrainian relations and Ukraine’s economy.
Now, 30 protesters are blocking traffic at Medyka. Only one truck per hour is allowed to travel from Poland to Ukraine. Trucks leaving Ukraine must be under 3.5 tons in weight to pass through.
The farmers want the EU-South American trade agreement stopped. They’re worried that cheap food products will flood their market, harming Polish farmers. Other European countries, like France and Italy, are also opposing the agreement.
This protest coincides with Ukraine’s day of remembrance for those who died in a famine caused by Stalin’s regime in the 1930s. The famine killed an estimated 4 million people. Even then, Soviet authorities exported grain from Ukraine, causing immense suffering.