Farmers’ protest expected in Warsaw

Farmers continuing to demand the halt of Ukrainian agricultural imports into Poland are expected to hold protests today.

Polish farmers’ dissatisfaction with Poland-Ukraine trade liberalization has been ongoing since the spring of 2023. It is assumed that the consequent surge in competition has greatly affected their incomes, as Ukrainian producers are not burdened by regulations of the European Green Deal. While Polish farmers advocate against the oversupply of agricultural goods, the import of Russian agricultural products to Poland reached $117 million in 2023, exceeding the figures from 2021. Poland also banned the import of Ukrainian rapeseed meal but, controversially, continued purchasing it from Belarus in growing volumes. After the Polish authorities’ failure to reach a consensus with farmers regarding a solution for the Ukrainian grain crisis, Polish farmers took to the streets.

The blockades of transportation routes at the border with Ukraine by Polish farmers worsened diplomatic relations between the countries. Polish PM Donald Tusk, attempting to garner support from Polish farmers ahead of the June EP elections, is expected to lobby for their interests and ultimately a return to the pre-war rules of trade. Should the situation persist as is, Ukraine may consider introducing an embargo on the import of some Polish products in retaliation.