The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), together with leading agricultural associations that are part of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Forum (UAF), is urging the Danish Presidency of the EU Council and EU member states to swiftly adopt the recently negotiated trade agreement between the European Commission and Ukraine.
According to UCAB's statement, while the agreement falls short of Ukrainian farmers’ expectations—marking a significant step back compared to the EU’s Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATP) regime of the past three years—it must still be implemented quickly.
Preliminary estimates suggest Ukraine could lose up to €900 million due to restricted access to the EU market, with an additional €1.7 billion in potential losses from redirecting products to third countries. These losses, the statement stresses, place further pressure on Ukraine—the only frontline country in Europe where defenders are fighting not just for national freedom and independence but also for European values and liberties.
The associations note that swift and unrestricted adoption of the agreement would send a strong signal of confidence to Ukrainian producers and their partners in the European agri-food industry, which includes livestock, food, and beverage sectors.
Most importantly, they warn against unilateral trade restrictions by individual EU member states, which could undermine the EU's internal market and cast doubt on the logic of Ukraine’s pre-accession reforms and legal harmonization with the EU.
“It is time to demonstrate true solidarity and support for Ukraine in a domain where the EU plays a critical role—trade,” the statement concludes.
