EU Trade Committee preapproves further trade preferences for Ukrainian imports

“The EU should offer further trade preferences to Ukraine, but some sensitive agricultural products don’t need additional EU support,” members of the International Trade Committee stated in a resolution adopted on Thursday, Ukrinform reported. At the same time, amending a Commission proposal offering further trade preferences to Ukraine regarding certain agricultural products, MEPs suggested that tomatoes, wheat, and urea (a raw material for fertilizers) should not enjoy further quota preferences than those outlined in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Also, MEPs noted that the condition for further trade preferences to Ukraine is a sustained fight against corruption along with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, “The European Parliament strongly supports the ongoing reforms in Ukraine. By granting temporary trade preferences, we want to strengthen small and medium enterprises and provide the necessary impetus for increasing trade flows. These developments have not just economic but political value for Ukraine”, rapporteur Jaroslaw Walesa (EPP, PL) said.