Polish government to withdraw support for Ukrainian exports from June 5
21 May 20:14
Poland is canceling duty-free trade with Ukraine as of June 5, 2025. The relevant decision was made by the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to Polska Agencja Prasowa.
This refers to the abandonment of the mechanism of autonomous trade measures (ATM), which was introduced by the European Union in June 2022 as a form of support for the Ukrainian economy during a full-scale war with Russia.
Starting June 5, this mechanism will no longer exist. We are returning to the pre-war situation in terms of border management,” Tusk said.
He added that Poland wants to help Ukraine in a full-scale war with Russia, but this cannot happen at the expense of Polish producers, especially farmers.
What the ATZ regime provided for
The ATZ regime allowed Ukrainian companies to export goods to the EU without paying duties and quotas. This allowed Ukrainian farmers and producers to actively sell grain, oil, meat, honey, eggs, and other goods to the EU market, compensating for the losses from the destroyed logistics and the loss of a part of the domestic market.
Read also: Poland allows a full embargo on agricultural products from Ukraine
Why Poland is abandoning the free trade zone
The reason is pressure from Polish farmers. During 2023-2024, Polish farmers repeatedly resorted to protests, demanding to restrict the access of cheap Ukrainian products to the Polish market. They claimed that Ukrainian goods were driving down prices on the domestic market and creating unequal competition. The result was not only the reintroduction of restrictions but also the extension of the national embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain, corn, sunflower and rapeseed.
What to expect in the future
According to Polish officials, the restrictions will remain in effect until the European Commission imposes stricter regulations on imports from Ukraine. At the same time, as noted in Warsaw, Poland is not against helping Ukraine, but is in favor of protecting its agricultural sector.
What are the consequences of this decision of the Polish government for Ukraine?
The abolition of the duty-free regime will lead to an increase in the cost of Ukrainian products on the Polish market, which could significantly reduce the competitiveness of exporters. According to Ukrainian think tanks, agricultural exports to Poland alone exceeded $2 billion in 2024. Restrictions may affect both farmers’ profits and foreign exchange earnings to the state budget.
Ukraine’s response
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine has already announced consultations with the European Commission and the Polish side. Kyiv insists on adhering to the principles of the EU single market and preventing political pressure on Ukrainian exporters. It is expected that negotiations will soon take place on the creation of a new control mechanism that will preserve trade while taking into account the interests of Polish farmers.
Ukraine hopes that Warsaw’s decision will be temporary and will not turn into a long-term economic blockade. The government will have to find a compromise between protecting its own exporters and maintaining a strategic partnership with Poland as a key ally in Europe.
In addition, on May 21, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada’s Agrarian Committee met with MEP Herbert Dorfman to discuss the prospects for trade relations after the expiration of autonomous trade measures on June 5, 2025.
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