Poland’s decision to import Ukrainian wheat and other food products is a violation of the grain deal signed earlier this month, Ukraine says. This writes Bloomberg. Poland imposed the ban to protect its farmers from competition.
Poland will continue to support Ukraine, however, according to party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski of the ruling Prawo i Sprawiedliwość party. “But we also have a responsibility to our citizens and farmers and we have to prevent an agricultural crisis.”
The decision could potentially have major implications for the alliance that has made Poland’s Warsaw government one of Ukraine’s strongest allies since Russia invaded the country. Poland has provided arms and humanitarian aid, among other things, and has taken in more than a million Ukrainian refugees.
Dismissal
Earlier this month, Poland’s agriculture minister resigned after widespread protests by farmers over grain imports from Ukraine. The farmers are seen as major supporters of the ruling Prawo i Sprawiedliwość party, which could face tough elections in the autumn.
Poland and other neighboring countries have pledged to help Ukraine export grain as Russia tries to curb exports. Some of that supply is now piling up in Eastern Europe, endangering locally produced products.
I commit
The Polish government has now pledged to buy grain from local farmers and collect extra subsidies for production companies, while retaining the benefits of buying fertilizers, says Kaczynski.
Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry said the Polish move goes directly against the new grain deal concluded last week. The agreement stipulates that Ukrainian agricultural products can be shipped to Poland, provided they are then sent to other countries.
Source: BNR
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