Reading Time: < 1 minute The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to back a year-long extension to tariff-free trade for Ukrainian farm produce, while introducing new curbs on the level of imports to assuage protesting EU farmers.
EU lawmakers back Ukraine food import extension, with curbs
EU plans to hit Russia, Belarus grain imports with tariffs
Commission aims to curb Russian income, prevent market distortions, placate farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes The European Commission proposed on Friday imposing tariffs on imports of grain from Russia and Belarus in an attempt to prevent Moscow and its ally from distorting EU markets and placate farmers who have protested for months over cheap imports.
EU backs another year of access for Ukrainian food
Proposal includes tariff 'emergency brake' for some products in response to farmer protests
Reading Time: 2 minutes European Union lawmakers approved on Thursday granting Ukrainian food producers tariff-free access to EU markets for another year, rejecting amendments that could have increased restrictions.
Farmers protest across Europe, press ministers to act
Protests continued in Brussels, Madrid, border between Poland and Germany
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers on Monday blocked a border crossing between Poland and Germany, threw bottles at police in Brussels and gathered in Madrid to demand action on cheap supermarket prices and what they say is unfair competition from abroad.
EU plans curbs on Ukraine farm imports to calm angry farmers
Measures possible for other farm produce if markets disrupted
Reading Time: 2 minutes The European Commission on Wednesday proposed measures to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine and offer greater flexibility on rules for fallow land in a bid to quell protests by angry farmers in France and other EU members.
EU countries fail to agree on extending glyphosate approval
Current approval expires Dec. 15
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — European Union governments failed on Friday to give a decisive opinion on a proposal to extend by 10 years EU approval for the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup herbicide. A “qualified majority” of 15 countries representing at least 65 per cent of the bloc’s population had been […] Read more
EU plans import curbs on Ukraine grain, farmer supports for border countries
Grain would be let into five countries only for export
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — The European Union is preparing 100 million euros (C$147.4 million) in compensation for farmers in five countries bordering Ukraine and plans to introduce restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grains. Pressure has mounted on Brussels to work out a European Union-wide solution after Poland and Hungary banned some imports from Ukraine last […] Read more
WTO strikes global trade deals deep into overtime
Deals reached on food security, health and fishing; formerly defiant India joins consensus
Reading Time: 3 minutes Geneva | Reuters — The World Trade Organization’s 164 members approved a series of trade agreements early on Friday that included commitments on fish and pledges on health and food security after more than five gruelling days of negotiations. The deals were ground out over five days of bargaining at a conference of more than […] Read more
EU offers farmers aid, more land to grow due to Ukraine war
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters — The European Union will distribute 500 million euros (C$692 million) to help farmers and allow them to grow crops on fallow land to mitigate food price spikes and potential shortages resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Published on Wednesday, the proposals by the EU’s executive European Commission also include assistance to […] Read more
Canada, EU, China, others agree on temporary fix to WTO crisis
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels/Davos | Reuters — Canada, the European Union, China and 14 other World Trade Organization members agreed on Friday to create a temporary mechanism to settle trade disputes after U.S. action rendered the WTO incapable last month of acting as the umpire of global trade. The Canadian government and the European Commission said separately that […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
