News in brief: Romania has approved a mechanism for importing agricultural products from Ukraine, including wheat, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans, to protect Romanian farmers while allowing controlled imports. This decision is seen as beneficial for both countries and could potentially influence other nations to reconsider their restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products.
Romania has approved a mechanism to import agricultural products from Ukraine, including wheat, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans.
According to a report by Ukrinform, Ukraine’s state information and news agency, the mechanism will protect Romanian farmers and local production while allowing them to ship their products through certain conditions and checks.
One such condition is that Romania is allowing only imports based on a license and for limited quantities of grain. Furthermore, only Romanian farmers and processors who need to replenish stocks will be able to import the produce.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu mentioned that the process for validating the mechanism to protect Romanian farmers and local production from Ukrainian grain imports is still ongoing. Both parties are also working on a plan is to to increase the transit volume of Ukrainian grain from two to four million tonnes in October 2023.
Observers opine that the Romanian government’s decision to approve the mechanism is a positive step for both Romania and Ukraine because it will allow Ukraine to ship its agricultural products, which are essential for its economy, and it will also help ensure that Romanian farmers and consumers have access to affordable food.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country, which is an agricultural powerhouse, has faced adversities, especially in selling its produce to global markets. Initially, a deal was signed to allow Ukraine to continue using the Black Sea route for strictly agriculture-related business. However, this deal was upended when Russia decided to leave it, citing requests like lifting of sanctions but Ukraine’s allies.
To make matters worse, Ukraine’s alternative routes for shipping its products, like through Romania and Poland, faces opposition as some countries claim that they need to protect their farmers and local production. Thus, this mechanism is important for more than just Romania and Ukraine’s trade. There are some analysts who believe that if it yields good results, some countries might consider lifting their restrictions on agricultural products from Ukraine.
