Canada extends Ukraine tariff-free order, tightens access to sheltered farm sectors
© Reuters. Canada’s Deputy Top Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland attends a info convention earlier than turning in the federal budget in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable
By Rod Nickel and Steve Scherer
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -Canada on Friday prolonged Ukraine’s tariff-free entry for most goods, but tightened entry for eggs, poultry and dairy, sectors that are safe below a supply-management gadget.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged tariff reduction for Ukrainian goods akin to steel – a rapid measure started a year previously – would continue for every other year to back enhance Kyiv because it defends itself in opposition to Russia. That measure utilized to goods no longer already lined by the countries’ free change agreement.
The extra change entry was due to flee out on Friday and the government’s resolution on whether or now to no longer lengthen it extra was a take a look at of Canada’s staunch backing of Ukraine.
Canadian poultry and egg farmers and processors had complained that Ukraine’s entry made it more sturdy to manipulate imports and also raised issues about the safety of Ukrainian meals due to infrastructure ache.
Sooner than the total-scale battle, Ukraine was the sixth-most attention-grabbing hen meat exporter, per the U.S. Division of Agriculture.
There’s miniature evidence despite the reality that that Ukraine has shipped out of the ordinary of such farm merchandise. All thru the first 5 months of the expanded change entry final year, finance officers recorded ultimate one C$6,000 ice cream cargo from Ukraine, they told a committee of legislators.
Canadian farmers produce eggs, poultry and dairy below a gadget that limits manufacturing and exposes them to ultimate minimal import competition below quotas. Freeland acknowledged that Canada would enable Ukraine to continue shipping these merchandise tariff-free internal World Replace Group quotas, but would reimpose duties on shipments above these quotas.
Ihor Michalchyshyn, CEO of the diaspora neighborhood Ukrainian Canadian Congress, had entreated the government to continue Ukraine’s full obligation-free entry to enhance its farm industrial, seriously after a most up-to-date dam crumple.
“While we welcome the extension of the tariff waiver on some Ukrainian goods, we’re disenchanted that Canada excluded some key agricultural industries,” he acknowledged in an e mail.
