On Wednesday, 25 September, a protest was held in the port of the Spanish city of Santander, organised by the farmers’ union Unión de Uniones. They demanded that the authorities control grain imports from Ukraine, which, in their opinion, significantly reduces prices for the local product. According to their data, more than half of the Ukrainian grain supplied to the EU goes to Spain, Komersant ukrainskyi
reports
Following a previous rally in front of the European Union building in Madrid this Monday, the organisation again called on the European Commission to introduce safeguard measures to support European grain producers. They note that due to uncontrolled imports of Ukrainian grain, prices for local products have fallen by 45% since May 2022.
According to Unión de Uniones, in 2023, Spain received about 8.4 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, and in the first half of 2024 – another 6.5 million tonnes. The organisation is demanding that the European Commission reintroduce the duties on imports of wheat and corn from Ukraine that were cancelled, and also demands that prices for imported grain meet the conditions applied to European producers.
Unión de Uniones coordinator Luis Cortes said that the agricultural community does not intend to sit idly by while their demands are ignored. He stressed that the protests will continue if the situation does not change.
In addition, the organisation called on the authorities to check the pricing of grain-based products, as the fall in prices for farmers has not been reflected in the cost of feed or bread for consumers. They emphasise that despite a significant reduction in grain prices by 45% and electricity by 70%, the cost of feed has fallen by only 30%, while bread has risen by 9%.
“We do not agree to sell our grain at low prices and buy expensive feed,”
– the union representatives concluded.
The organisation is also demanding compensatory measures to support farmers and livestock breeders in the wake of the crisis.
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The preferential trade regime and its enemies
The decision to allow the free import of Ukrainian goods into the EU was made by the EU at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion as a gesture of support for the Ukrainian economy and in response to the Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. During the two years of its operation, the simplified regime has gained a lot of opponents in the EU. In particular, the governments of Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia demanded that imports of Ukrainian products be restricted (later France joined this position). They claim that cheap agricultural products from Ukraine are swallowing up their markets.
Six major European farmers’ associations also protested strongly against Ukrainian products. Polish farmers have even staged a border blockade, not only with Ukraine but also with Germany.
Nevertheless, after a tough debate, the simplified trade regime with Ukraine was extended until 5 June 2025. However, at the request of these countries, it was severely restricted.
Thus, the provisions on duty-free trade were amended to include further “safeguards” to protect European producers.
In particular, the European Commission may apply any measures it deems necessary if imports from Ukraine cause “significant disturbances” on the EU market or the markets of one or more EU Member States. In such a case, the European Commission may launch an “emergency brake” for particularly sensitive agricultural products. This list includes the following products:
- poultry
- eggs
- sugar
- oats
- cereals
- corn;
- honey.
However, the European Commission has not only options but also responsibilities. If imports of these goods exceed the average import volumes recorded in the second half of 2021 and for the whole of 2022 and 2023, customs tariffs must be restored within 14 days.
Thus, the EU has effectively reintroduced import quotas for many Ukrainian goods, albeit at a rather high level.