Croatian Prime Minister Andrii Plenkovich has raised the possibility of imposing a ban on imports of agricultural commodities from Ukraine, a decision that could have significant implications for international trade and bilateral relations between the two countries. Plenkovich announced this consideration in a statement made on September 19. Furthermore, it highlighted concerns that large-scale imports of Ukrainian grain at lower prices could harm local farmers.
Croatia has sought to establish itself as a transit country for goods, rather than relying heavily on agricultural imports from Ukraine. The Prime Minister emphasized that if the ban came to fruition, it would have serious repercussions for Croatian farmers, who could face significant difficulties due to a lack of access to more affordable agricultural commodities.
Furthermore, Plenkovich highlighted the importance of Croatian ports as crucial points for the flow of agricultural production from Ukraine. After months of negotiations, Ukraine began using Croatian terminals as an alternative export route in early September. Similarly, this increased the relevance of this issue within the scope of bilateral relations.
If the ban is implemented, Croatia will join countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Hungary that have already imposed embargoes on Ukrainian products. The trade dispute between Ukraine and these countries has gained international attention, and recently the World Trade Organization (WTO) confirmed that Ukraine has initiated a process with the organization to challenge these bans on imports of its agricultural products. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for global trade and Ukraine's international trade relations.
Source: datagro
