Ukraine suspends complaint with WTO against Poland, Slovakia, Hungary
A Ukrainian deputy economy minister has announced that Ukraine has suspended its complaint lodged with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The announcement was made by Taras Kachka on Thursday.
Poland, along with Hungary and Slovakia, decided to extend, unilaterally, a ban on Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds owing to concerns that a glut of imports from its eastern neighbour could damage their farming sectors.
The move angered Ukraine, which responded by lodging a complaint with the WTO against the three countries.
On September 15, the European Commission (EC) said that an EU embargo on Ukrainian grain entering five member states - Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia - would not be extended as "the market distortions in the five frontline countries have disappeared."
Poland decided to extend the ban despite the EC's disagreement. Slovakia and Hungary also announced restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports.
The Polish government's spokesman, Piotr Mueller, told PAP later on Thursday that Ukraine's suspension of the complaint was important but that more was needed.
"Ukraine's declaration of suspending the complaint to the WTO is an essential step, but we are awaiting further constructive actions from Ukraine towards creating the appropriate relations in agricultural matters," Mueller said.
Poland's agriculture minister went further, saying the complaint should be withdrawn rather than merely suspended.
"We demand the complaint's withdrawal because it is baseless and absurd," Robert Telus told PAP. "How can the Ukrainian government file a complaint against the Polish government that the Polish government is helping the Polish farmer? It is a great absurdity. And our appeal to the Ukrainians is this: if we want to improve the conditions of our relations, that complaint should simply be withdrawn, instead of talking about some suspension."
(PAP)
at/md/jch/jd/ej
