**Ukraine Seeks to Lift Tariffs on US Goods, Negotiates with Washington**
In a bid to maintain strong economic and diplomatic ties with the United States, Ukraine has signaled its readiness to negotiate the abolition of tariffs on all American goods. Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka made this announcement in an interview published on April 8.
Kachka emphasized that Ukraine’s priority is to resolve the issue through dialogue, rather than escalating the situation. This move comes in response to US President Donald Trump‘s new tariff policy, announced on April 2 as part of what he called “Liberation Day.” The tariffs aim to revitalize American manufacturing and fight back against foreign exploitation.
**Impact on Ukraine**
Ukraine was hit with a 10% blanket tariff on its exports, lower than the 20% imposed on the European Union and the accumulative 104% on China. However, this is still a setback for a country at war. The metallurgy sector, a major source of Ukrainian exports to the US, has already been impacted by a 25% tariff imposed in March.
Ukrainian exports to the US totaled just $874 million in 2023, while imports from the US reached $3.4 billion. The overall trade volume has declined in recent years, and the tariffs could deepen the imbalance, especially if they trigger broader protectionist measures globally.
**Global Trade War Concerns**
Oleksandra Myronenko, an analyst at the Center for Economic Strategy in Kyiv, warned that a global trade war triggered by the new tariffs could still have knock-on effects for Ukraine. “Even if we’re not the main target, we could feel the fallout,” she said.
**Ukraine’s Strategy**
Kyiv’s strategy now centers on preserving access to global markets and maintaining stable ties with Washington amid growing uncertainty over future US economic and security commitments. Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko called the new US tariffs “difficult, but not critical,” saying Kyiv remained focused on long-term economic resilience and international cooperation.
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