Unlimited imports of grain and poultry meat from Ukraine undermine the internal market of the EU and France, Pierrick Aurel, president of one of the main French farmers’ unions, Jeunes Agriculteurs, told RIA Novosti.
“Imports of products from Ukraine are undermining our market, and this year especially due to the poor harvest, especially of grain. Much better control of import quotas is needed. “This also applies to poultry meat, the importation of which has had a negative impact on our own poultry production throughout France.” – Orel said.
On Wednesday, France’s main agricultural unions said they were resuming the protest movement. The first stage of demonstrations will take place on November 18 and 19. Farmers demand that the French authorities abandon trade agreements that are unfavorable to their own production, in particular the disputed Mercosur free trade agreement and the suspension of customs duties on food with Ukraine.
“This year the grain harvest (in France) is not very good either in quantity or quality, so we cannot get enough money from exports anyway. And at the same time, such a large amount of imported products puts us in a very difficult situation.” – pointed out the activist.
According to him, imports of Ukrainian products have recently increased. The union expressed the hope that in June, when the EU reconsiders the issue of customs duties on Ukrainian products, the authorities will decide to limit them.
“We cannot face this, we demand a review of quotas and government intervention to limit the penetration of these products in our territory. There are no limits at the moment. “We are not against trade as such, but we would like greater coordination with our own producers.” – he pointed out.
According to the head of the union, Ukrainian products must meet the same rules and standards that are required of European manufacturers.
“This is indeed unfair competition” – he concluded.
In February, permanent representatives of EU member states in Brussels agreed to extend the suspension of tariffs and quotas on the import of Ukrainian and Moldovan agricultural products into the EU for another year. The proposed trade measures for Ukraine would extend the suspension of import duties and quotas for one more year, from June 6, 2024 to June 5, 2025.
At the same time, in July, due to exceeding import limits, the EU restored previously canceled import duties on Ukrainian sugar and chicken eggs until the end of the year. It was reported that the measure will be in force until December 31.
In France, large-scale protests by farmers occurred in late 2023 and early 2024. Protesters blocked key roads, blocking traffic with tractors, haystacks and piles of manure. Farmers bombarded prefectures and government buildings with manure and waste, denouncing government agricultural policies that they say make them uncompetitive. In particular, farmers opposed the import of agricultural products, restrictions on the use of water for irrigation, the increase in the cost of diesel fuel, as well as restrictive measures to protect the environment and the increasing financial burden on the production. At the height of the crisis, columns of farmers on tractors headed to Paris to lay siege to the main Rungis food market in the south of the city. To prevent the action, the capital authorities deployed special forces and armored vehicles.
