EU agrees to reduce or eliminate customs duties for several Ukrainian agri-food products
Today, the Council of the European Union agreed to the reduction or elimination of customs duties for a variety of agri-food products, such as dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and meat preparations.
This follows the preliminary agreement on the review of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), reached by the European Commission and Ukraine on 30 June 2025 with the aim of establishing a long-term, predictable and reciprocal trade framework within the broader context of Ukraine’s accession process.
“We are helping Ukraine militarily and financially, but we need to also help them by promoting trade liberalisation,” said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. “Both the EU and Ukraine will benefit from the elimination of customs duties, leading to sustained economic stability, enduring trade relations, and further Ukrainian integration with the Union.”
The EU position agreed today will enhance trade flows between the EU and Ukraine, while ensuring that Ukraine’s market access is contingent on its gradual alignment with EU production standards on animal welfare, pesticides, and veterinary medicines.
Furthermore, it takes into account the specific needs of certain EU agricultural sectors by setting up a robust safeguard mechanism that either party can activate in the event of market disruption.
It also ensures that market access for the most sensitive products, such as sugar, poultry, eggs, wheat, maize and honey, remains more limited and gradual. Full liberalisation will only be considered for certain non-sensitive products such as milk and milk products.
Following adoption of the decision by the Council, the EU-Ukraine Association Committee, meeting in trade configuration, will adopt the decision as part of the review process under Article 29(4) of the EU-Ukraine association agreement. The aim of the review process is to expedite and broaden the scope of customs duty elimination in EU-Ukraine trade.
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