Why did the Commission negotiate this review?
With the expiry of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) on June 5, 2025, the EU and Ukraine are negotiating the review of their Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) to ensure long-term predictability and stability for EU and Ukrainian businesses. This review is foreseen in Article 29 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
This review will further strengthen the ties between both parties, bring Ukraine closer to the EU, and gradually integrate it into the EU Single Market. This contributes to the unwavering support for Ukraine, including in the perspective of Ukraines EU accession.
What is the content of the agreement?
The agreement in principle reached is balanced, taking into account the EUs commitment to provide a long-term solution for operators, the need to continue supporting Ukraine, and Ukraines expectation to further enhance its dynamic trade relations with the EU while considering the sensitivities of certain agricultural sectors.
The agreement in principle comprises the following:
- Level playing field: all new market access concessions will be conditioned on the gradual alignment of Ukraine to relevant EU production standards by 2028, e.g., on animal welfare, the use of pesticides, and veterinary medicines. Ukraine is expected to report annually on its progress.
- A robust safeguard clause: both sides agreed to provide for the possibility to invoke a safeguard in case of negative impacts due to further liberalisation of their bilateral trade. This can be assessed at the level of one or more Member States.
- Enhanced trade flows fully accounting for EU sensitive agricultural sectors: Ukraine will increase quota volumes for pork, poultry, and sugar and will eliminate or reduce its tariffs on goods imported from the EU. The EU will further open its market to Ukrainian products, compared to before the war, while fully taking into account the sensitivities of certain EU agrifood sectors.
- Flanking measures: the EU will look at specific flanking measures to help Ukrainian exporters regain their traditional markets and get their products to global markets.
- Review clause: with the dynamic nature of trade relations between the EU and Ukraine as well as Ukraines gradual integration into the EU Single Market, the agreement in principle includes a clause to review the situation.
What are the quantities that have been offered to Ukraine?
The changes agreed will allow Ukraine to maintain the level of exports of recent years for many products. This reflects economic integration based on complementarity that is beneficial to both sides.
What are the expected impacts for the EU, and for EU agriculture in particular?
EU agrifood exports to Ukraine steadily increased in recent years, amounting to €3.6 billion in 2024, representing around 9% of total EU exports to Ukraine.
What are the next steps?
Once the details of the review have been stabilised, the Commission will adopt a proposal for a Decision of the Council, for the Council to endorse the agreement.
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