Hungary to Impose New Restrictions on Ukrainian Agricultural Imports

Hungary's agricultural sector is gearing up for significant changes as the government comes up with a plan to tighten restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. The move, announced by Hungary's agricultural minister on April 11, 2024, aims to protect local farmers from the adverse effects of market fluctuations triggered by the entry of cheaper Ukrainian imports.

Minister Nagy announced a comprehensive five-point plan devised to support Hungarian farmers, with one key measure being the mandatory reporting by sellers and logistics firms to the Hungarian government on restricted products entering the country via Ukraine, irrespective of their source. Notably, even processed goods derived from Ukrainian grain will fall under these new regulations.

This decision follows Hungary's previous imposition of a ban on 24 Ukrainian agricultural items last year, covering commodities such as grains, oilseeds, flour, cooking oil, and various meat products. While the ban allowed for the transit of these goods through Hungarian territory, it underscored the government's commitment to protecting its domestic agricultural interests. Notably, Ukrainian natural honey was recently excluded from the list of restricted items.

In a broader context, this move by Hungary aligns with recent developments within the European Union (EU). In March, the EU finalized an agreement to extend the temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to EU member states. However, the agreement incorporates a strengthened safeguard mechanism, compelling the European Commission to reimpose tariff-rate quotas should the import of certain staples exceed the average volumes imported in 2022 and 2023.

These measures highlight Hungary's proactive stance in safeguarding its agricultural sector amidst evolving trade dynamics and underline the government's commitment to supporting local farmers in the face of global market pressures.