European Commission pushes for trade deal with Ukraine before June 5

As the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) set to expire in early June, the European Commission aims to negotiate a broader trade liberalisation deal with Ukraine by the June 5 deadline.  

However, with little time left, many worry that an agreement may not be reached in time. EU officials are preparing a "legal bridge" to avoid a sudden lapse in trade arrangements, but the uncertainty continues, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

French and British officials have begun preliminary discussions aimed at securing a deal to manage the return of migrants crossing the Channel. This comes amid ongoing migration challenges between the two nations. While these talks continue, the European Union (EU) faces its own set of pressing issues, particularly concerning trade and the future of Ukrainian exports. In a major move, the European Commission has decided not to extend ATMs that currently allow Ukraine tariff-free access to the EU market.

These measures, introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, helped Ukraine export its agricultural products overland, avoiding the contested Black Sea route. However, EU countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia have voiced concerns over the impact of Ukrainian goods on local prices, particularly in the farming sector. Meanwhile, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has issued a warning to Irish students planning to participate in the J1 visa programme in the US. 

The USI has urged caution, particularly in light of the Trump administration's crackdown on activism, following recent rulings on pro-Palestinian protests. In response, some students are reconsidering their plans, opting for EU destinations instead, amid concerns about the risks of activism and surveillance. As these issues unfold, the EU, the US, and Ukraine remain at pivotal crossroads that could shape the future of trade, migration, and student exchanges.

Since 2016, the EU and Ukraine have had an agreement on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). However, as experts point out, the need for special measures to temporarily lift all quotas and tariffs highlights that the so-called free trade regime has, over the past eight years, failed to prevent the EU from maintaining tariffs on significant volumes of Ukrainian exports. Meanwhile, EU countries have enjoyed virtually unrestricted access to Ukraine's market throughout this period. On June 4, 2022, the EU temporarily suspended tariffs on Ukrainian exports to the community for one year, a concession that was later extended.

Earlier, the agriculture ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia urged the European Commission to revoke the increased quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products and to require Ukrainian companies to comply with the standards established in the EU market.

By Naila Huseynova