USA: Poland and Hungary's decision to forbid the import of Ukrainian agricultural products has been criticised by Brussels. According to an EU Commission spokesperson who sent a statement to the media via email on Sunday, such actions are "unacceptable" and violate the rules of the union.
On Saturday, Poland became the first country to impose temporary restrictions on grain, oilseeds, and some other agricultural products coming from Ukraine.
Sunday saw a similar trend in Hungary. Both countries cited the unchecked influx of low-cost produce from Ukraine as a result of the "full duty-free and free trade opportunities" provided to Kiev by the EU.
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The two nations claimed that the "destabilisation" of agricultural markets in Poland and Hungary as a result of the measures implemented by the EU to support Kiev in its ongoing conflict with Moscow is a situation in which they now need to defend the interests of their own farmers.
A spokesperson for the EU Commission stated on Sunday, "We are aware of Poland and Hungary's announcements regarding the ban on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine," adding, "It is important to underline that trade policy is of EU exclusive competence and, therefore, unilateral actions are not acceptable."
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Additionally, the statement stated that it was "crucial to coordinate and align all decisions within the EU," especially in "such challenging times." If Warsaw and Budapest might be subject to sanctions from Brussels due to their decision was not made clear in the statement.
At first, the EU promoted the initiative as a way to expand the market for its exports in the Middle East and Africa. However, a lot of the produce was shipped to Eastern Europe, which caused local prices to skyrocket.
The prime ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia called for the reimposition of tariffs in a letter to the EU Commission sent last month regarding imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
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According to the country's BTA news agency, Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister Yavor Gechev stated on Sunday that his country was also thinking about imposing a ban on Ukrainian imports.
According to Warsaw's ban on both the import and transit of Ukrainian goods through its borders, Poland's Minister of Development and Technology Waldemar Buda announced on Twitter on Sunday.