Polish farmers announce several-month blockade of the border with Ukraine
8 October 2024 13:11
on 8 October, Polish farmers may block truck traffic near the Medyka-Szegyni checkpoint. The protest will last until the end of this year. This was reported by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“According to information from the Polish side, local farmers have announced a possible protest action in the form of blocking the movement of trucks in front of the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint from 8 October to 31 December 2024,” the statement said.
At present, vehicle clearance is carried out as usual.
“In case of a strike and further changes in the situation, we will inform you additionally,” the customs service added.
Border blockade and trade wars
Polish farmers have begun a blockade of the border with Ukraine due to the influx of Ukrainian grain, which, according to the Poles, lowers prices for their products and makes them less competitive. Farmers in Poland claim that this negatively affects their income, as Ukrainian grain is sold at lower prices, which reduces the value of local products.
The main demand of the protesters is to cancel the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and return the permit system for importing goods to Poland.
As part of the protest, Polish farmers blocked truck traffic, even transit traffic, at checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border, and sometimes even the movement of freight trains across the border. On several occasions, protesters poured Ukrainian grain directly onto the ground.
At the end of April this year , Polish farmers unblocked the Rava-Ruska checkpoint on the border with Ukraine to allow trucks to pass through. At the same time, trucks transporting grain crops were still not allowed to enter Poland.
