July 17, the Council of the European Union approved the decision to provide autonomous trade measures for Ukraine.

The EU, outside the framework of the free trade regime, will provide additional quotas for a range of important Ukrainian exports of agro-food products: honey, grains, processed tomatoes, grape juice, etc. Apart from that, the proposal stipulates for the accelerated liberalization of trade in footwear, copper, aluminum, liquid crystal displays, etc.

The decision of the EU Council is the final step necessary to formally adopt the legislative initiative of the European Commission on additional trade preferences that will come into force from September 2017.

"The decision of the EU Council will improve the access for Ukrainian exporters to the European market. We will continue our work on creating opportunities for Ukrainian businesses in the EU market", summed up Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska.

Background

September 29, 2016, the European Commission published a draft legislative initiative on introducing additional trade preferences for goods originating in Ukraine. The bill envisages the introduction of additional annual import quotas at zero tariff for Ukrainian agricultural products (tariff line 31), as well as full removal of import duties on several industrial products (22 tariff lines).

July 4, 2017, the European Parliament approved additional trade preferences for Ukraine.