The lifting of restrictions on imports of food and agricultural produce from Ukraine may do damage to new EU member countries, especially those bordering with Ukraine, Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber (SPPK) spokesman Stanislav Nemec told TASR on Tuesday.
“As exports from Ukraine to Russia have all but stopped, we can presume that they will be re-directed largely to European markets and Visegrad Four countries in particular while western Europe will get nothing of it, or very little at best”, said Nemec. He went on to point to a report made by the United States Department of Agriculture last year, according to which Ukraine is an important player on grain markets. “While Ukrainian farmers don't sell much of their grain right now and prefer to store it in the country as a safeguard against Ukraine's falling currency, at least some of them will need to empty their inventories to make room for fresh crops within a couple of months. This may push prices down”, added Nemec.
