Reading time: 1 minute

On September 15, the European Commission announced that the restrictive measures on Ukrainian exports of grain and other foodstuff to the EU Member states would not be reconducted. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria previously obtained a six-month ban on imports of wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds to their territories, while allowing those products to transit through landbased "solidarity corridors" established by the Commission on 12 May 20222 to mitigate the restrictions of maritime exports posed by the war in Ukraine. The lifting of this ban has been questioned by the above-mentioned EU member states and triggered its share of friction between those countries and the Ukrainian government. What are the reasons behind the objection of these countries? Is it really about allowing Ukrainian grain to transit to third countries or is it about selling it in the EU? In other words, is it an issue of solidarity or dumping?

Cover image: Shutterstock