Voices have been heard in France calling for a review of policy toward Ukrainian products, particularly due to their impact on the country’s domestic market
French Minister of Agriculture Anne Genevard expressed concern during a preparatory meeting of the European Union Agriculture Council held on May 26 in Brussels about the consequences of the unprecedented export of Ukrainian agricultural products, including grains and poultry meat, which were temporarily provided under preferential conditions within the framework of European trade policy. According to her, this export, despite its humanitarian nature, caused significant destabilization of France’s internal markets, especially affecting local production and the food industry as a whole. Genevard emphasized that balancing support for Ukraine with the protection of French farmers is a necessary and urgent task. She noted that the elimination of customs duties on Ukrainian goods led to immediate and profound effects on farming enterprises, particularly in the poultry sector, where local producers faced unfriendlier competitive pressure due to substantial Ukrainian imports. The minister also highlighted that the grain industry has suffered negative changes, as Ukrainian grain now enters the market duty-free and, in her words, is not covered by free trade agreements, leading to a decline in prices and disruption of equilibrium in France's internal markets. "I support any position that helps find a compromise between the humanitarian efforts to support a country that has suffered aggression and the simultaneous protection of our own interests," said Genevard. "This is especially important in the context of the removal of tariffs and trade restrictions, which immediately manifested in destabilization of certain sectors, particularly poultry farming, and the grain sector, where significant Ukrainian imports negatively affected domestic prices and producers." Considering these challenges, the French government emphasizes that support for Ukraine and its exports should be implemented with regard to the potential negative consequences for its own agricultural sectors. According to Genevard, finding compromise solutions and a balanced approach remain key to stabilizing the internal market and safeguarding the interests of local farmers. As for the further development of policies and trade measures in this direction, on May 22 the European Commission adopted a new list of transitional measures regarding Ukrainian exports to the European Union. These will come into effect on June 6, 2025, after the expiration of the so-called "trade visa-free regime," which allowed significant liberalization of Ukrainian imports and streamlined procedures for Ukrainian goods. As reported by EuroPravda at the end of April, the European Commission does not plan to extend the autonomous trade preferences for Ukraine, which expire on June 5, but guarantees a smooth transition to a new trading system, in which all liberalization conditions will be enshrined within the framework of a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU. In this context, the main focus is on finding compromise solutions that will not only support Ukraine in its fight and recovery but also prevent destructive consequences for the European internal market. Debates about customs regimes, trade preferences, and their impact on domestic production remain relevant, and future strategies will be defined by balancing humanitarian and economic interests of the European Union and its Member States.