Speaking at the Agro & Food Security Forum in Warsaw on 22 October, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Czesław Siekierski said the government is ‘doing everything possible’ to reach an accord with farm unions and haulage groups to keep the Polish-Ukrainian frontier open.
Farm leaders are demanding tighter controls on Ukrainian food imports, compensation for fuel costs, and safeguards against potential tariff cuts under the EU–Mercosur agreement. While acknowledging the economic pressure on domestic producers, Siekierski argued that border blockades hurt Poland’s reputation as a logistics hub and risk retaliation from trade partners.
The minister signalled that Warsaw could seek EU funds to finance targeted subsidies and invest in veterinary inspection capacity that would expedite—but more strictly monitor—transit cargo. Industry observers interpret the comments as an attempt to defuse tensions ahead of the Christmas export peak, when cross-border truck traffic typically rises 20 %.
Companies reliant on Polish drivers should watch the negotiation timeline; union leaders have threatened to resume full blockades if no concrete package emerges by mid-November. Contingency contracts via Slovak and Romanian routes remain advisable until a formal agreement is signed.
Farm leaders are demanding tighter controls on Ukrainian food imports, compensation for fuel costs, and safeguards against potential tariff cuts under the EU–Mercosur agreement. While acknowledging the economic pressure on domestic producers, Siekierski argued that border blockades hurt Poland’s reputation as a logistics hub and risk retaliation from trade partners.
The minister signalled that Warsaw could seek EU funds to finance targeted subsidies and invest in veterinary inspection capacity that would expedite—but more strictly monitor—transit cargo. Industry observers interpret the comments as an attempt to defuse tensions ahead of the Christmas export peak, when cross-border truck traffic typically rises 20 %.
Companies reliant on Polish drivers should watch the negotiation timeline; union leaders have threatened to resume full blockades if no concrete package emerges by mid-November. Contingency contracts via Slovak and Romanian routes remain advisable until a formal agreement is signed.
Fonte: Ukrinform
