Slovakia extends import ban to Ukrainian agricultural goods

An import ban on Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds has been in force in the eastern neighboring state since September and is limited until the end of the year. Now, according to APA information, the government in Bratislava is upping the ante again. Since last week, the import of hops, honey and sugar from Ukraine has been banned indefinitely. According to Neo-Agriculture Minister Richard Takáč, his country's farmers have suffered losses of around 110 million euros due to the import of “cheap Ukrainian grain”. Compensation payments from the European Union would have only cushioned a fraction of this at around 5 million euros. The measure is therefore “inevitable” as long as the EU does not return to a common import restriction, according to the party colleague of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was re-elected in October. Grain trading system in limbo It is currently uncertain what impact the tightening measures will have on the planned license import system for ...