Ukraine Files WTO Disputes Against Hungary, Poland, Slovakia for Ag Import Ban

Ukraine filed dispute cases at the World Trade Organization against Hungary, Poland and Slovakia concerning their bans on Ukraine's agricultural exports, the country's Ministry of Economy announced, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said the three nations' "unilateral ban" violates the countries' international obligations.

The EU in May imposed a temporary ban on Ukrainian agricultural exports to Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania due to apparent market distortions. In September, the bloc lifted this ban on word that Ukraine would impose export controls to prevent further market distortions in the four affected countries. Despite this, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia implemented a unilateral ban on the food imports.

As a result, Ukraine submitted requests for consultations with the three nations. "It is fundamentally important for us to prove that individual member states cannot ban the import of Ukrainian goods," Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said. "That is why we file lawsuits against them in the WTO. At the same time, we hope that these states will lift their restrictions and we will not have to clarify the relationship in the courts for a long time."