EU Member States Agree to Extend Ukraine, Moldova Import Duty Pause

EU member state ambassadors on Feb. 21 approved two European Council proposals to renew for another year the suspension of import duties and quotas on goods from Ukraine and Moldova, the council announced.

The proposals extend the Ukrainian and Moldovan import duty moratorium until June 5, 2025, and July 24, 2025, respectively. They also boost protections for "sensitive agricultural products" by increasing existing safeguard measures and "including a new automatic safeguard for certain sensitive products."

If the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade approves the proposals during a vote expected March 7, the council said it plans to "adopt its position" during one of its April plenary sessions. The measures would take effect after more final approvals and after being published in the Official Journal.