Negotiations with the European Commission on “trade visa-free travel” continue

The Ukrainian government plans to reach an agreement with the EU on the extension of the “trade visa-free regime” by June 5.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this during the government’s question hour in the Verkhovna Rada.

“As of today, the Ukrainian government is in negotiations (with the European Commission). By June 5, we expect to agree on a certain transitional option for visa-free trade with the EU until the negotiations are completed and amendments are made to Article 29 (4) of the Association Agreement with Ukraine. Accordingly, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in negotiations with the European Commission regarding autonomous trade rules (ATM) for Ukraine with the European Union last week, this week, and next week,” Denys Shmyhal noted.

He also recalled that June 5 is the planned date for Ukraine until which the “trade visa-free regime” will be in effect.

The Prime Minister recalled that last year, when ATMs were being introduced, the government signed an agreement with the European Commission on amendments to Article 29 of the Association Agreement, which will fix trade preferences for Ukraine for the entire period of its validity. The Head of Government informed that the European Commission has not yet started this work, and the Ukrainian state is in the process of negotiations on this issue. As previously reported by USM, the EU may extend the “visa-free trade” for steel and iron from Ukraine for three years.