The Polish Minister of Agriculture has issued an appeal to the Ukrainian government, requesting the withdrawal of a complaint filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Poland. The complaint stems from Poland’s decision, alongside Hungary and Slovakia, to unilaterally extend restrictions on agricultural produce imports from Ukraine.
The European Commission had previously lifted a temporary ban on imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds from Ukraine on September 15. However, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia chose to prolong the embargo, a move that incensed Ukraine and prompted them to submit a complaint to the WTO.
Robert Telus, the Polish Agriculture Minister, disclosed that he had engaged in an online discussion with his Ukrainian counterpart, Mykola Solski, concerning Ukraine’s proposed new procedures for importing agricultural products into the European Union (EU) or other regions outside the bloc.
“Our position remains steadfast regarding grain. Ukrainian grain cannot access the Polish market,” stated Telus. He added that the Ukrainian side had “accepted our arguments.”
Telus further emphasized that he had personally appealed to the Ukrainian government to withdraw the WTO complaint against Poland, branding it as “groundless.”
According to Telus, Solski expressed willingness to engage with Ukraine’s Minister of Economy to explore the possibility of retracting the complaint.
In a separate development, recent reports by Reuters revealed that discussions between the agriculture ministers of Slovakia and Ukraine have paved the way for Bratislava to lift its import ban. As part of the arrangement, Kyiv has agreed to suspend its WTO complaint against Slovakia, signifying a step toward resolving the ongoing dispute.