EU Extends Suspension of Import Duties for Ukraine, Moldova

The European Council on May 13 approved the suspension of import duties and quotas on exports from Ukraine and Moldova for another year, extending the measures for Ukraine until June 5, 2025, and for Moldova until July 25, 2025.

The council said all customs duties and quotas established under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will be suspended, with two safeguard mechanisms imposed on Ukrainian goods to shield the EU market.

The first safeguard includes a "strengthened version of the existing safeguard mechanism," which allows the European Commission to provide "any measure provided that specific conditions are met." The second safeguard obliges "the Commission to reintroduce quotas if imports of poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, maize, groats and honey exceed the arithmetic mean of quantities imported in the second half of 2021, in 2022 and in 2023."

The council said all customs duties and quotas set under the Association Agreement with Moldova were suspended and the existing safeguard mechanism was strengthened.