EBA calls for the abolition of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed

The European Business Association calls for the abolition of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed, as well as for a mechanism for refunding duties already paid.

The EBA recalled that on September 2, the President of Ukraine signed the relevant Law, which introduced a 10% export duty on soybeans and rapeseed.

At the same time, it was assumed that agricultural producers-exporters of their own grown products would be exempted from this duty.

However, according to information from member companies of the Grain and Oilseeds Committee of the Association, in practice this decision has led to a critical situation:

• export activity has effectively stopped;

• the duty exemption mechanism is not working;

• the entire supply chain is blocked;

• the state is losing foreign exchange earnings;

• the trust of international partners is decreasing;

• serious security risks are created.

In addition to economic losses, according to the Association’s experts, the introduced duties contradict Article 31 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which prohibits any restrictive measures on exports.

The European Business Association has already appealed to the Government and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with a request to support Ukrainian farmers and lift restrictions on the export of oilseeds.

Earlier, USM reported that ships are waiting in ports: the export of soybeans and rapeseed has stopped due to the duty.