**EU Considers Cutting Ukrainian Sugar Imports**
The European Commission is thinking about reducing the amount of sugar it imports from Ukraine. This comes after complaints from EU farmers that prices for sugar have fallen a lot.
In 2022, the EU removed taxes on Ukrainian agricultural products to support the country after Russia’s invasion started. Since then, however, protests in several countries have forced the EU to scale back its support.
Ukraine’s agriculture ministry says that agricultural products make up about 59% of the country’s total exports. This is important for Ukraine’s economy, which has been hurt by the war.
According to Reuters, EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told French farm leaders and industry reps at a Paris event in February that he wants to cut Ukraine’s sugar imports to levels “well below” what they are now. He also aims to limit other Ukrainian imports, such as grains.
EU sugar prices fell by more than 30% last year. However, white sugar futures have risen in the past two months because production outlooks in big producing countries like India have weakened.
Ukraine’s sugar imports reached over 500,000 tons in the 2023/24 season, which is far above the pre-war quota of 20,000 tons. The EU reinstated a Ukrainian sugar import quota of 262,650 tons last July after protests from farmers.
However, Ukraine has exported very little sugar since then because the EU halted imports when the first part of the quota was used up. Ukraine redirected its sugar shipments to other countries, with Turkey becoming the main destination.
Agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU reached a record $17 billion in 2024, with the EU remaining Ukraine’s biggest trading partner.
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