Hungary Allows Import of Ukrainian Sugar

The Hungarian government has lifted the ban on the import of Ukrainian cane and beet sugar, which was imposed after September 15, 2023. This information was published on the official portal of the Hungarian government.

This means that Ukrainian sugar is now permitted for sale in Hungary, as it has been removed from the list of products that were previously restricted for import from Ukraine.

It's worth noting that despite the compromise reached between Ukraine and the European Commission regarding the lifting of restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products, Hungary unilaterally decided to impose a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and several other food items after September 15.

Among the products affected by this ban were beef, pork, sheep, goats, poultry, wheat, rye, barley, maize, as well as products derived from them, vegetables, sugar, and wine. Importantly, this ban did not apply to shipments leaving Hungarian territory within 15 days and intended for transit through the country.

Poland and Slovakia also unilaterally implemented similar bans, prompting Ukraine to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against these countries. However, the consideration of this complaint was suspended at Ukraine's request to address trade issues with EU countries comprehensively.

In particular, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Taras Kachka, expressed optimism that this issue would be resolved in the coming weeks and months, including questions related to the licensing of Ukrainian products. He emphasized that this is a systemic matter in Ukraine-EU relations, and Ukraine's goal is to underscore that the EU and Ukraine seek a consistent approach to trade agreements.

Currently, Ukraine has resolved customs formalities for goods transiting through five neighboring countries, and none of these countries block this transit. The only remaining sensitive issue is access for Ukrainian products to the markets of neighboring countries.

It's worth noting that on September 15, the European Commission announced that the EU embargo on Ukrainian grain imports to five member states—Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia—would not be extended, as "market distortions in the five front-line countries have disappeared."