Firstly, this is what protectionism looks like. Their own farmers were outraged and complained that imports of cheaper Ukrainian products were destroying their production by dumping them, and governments responded immediately. After all, self-sufficiency in food is an important component of national security (especially in the face of threats of World War III from madmen from the swamps). So, successful agricultural production is an important component of national security. And European officials (unlike ours, unfortunately) are aware of this and have the political will to adhere to this principle and respond promptly to challenges.
“Successful agricultural production is an important component of national security. And European officials (unlike ours, unfortunately) are aware of this and have the political will to adhere to this principle and respond promptly to challenges.”
Secondly, there is speculation in Europe as well. It is their dealers and retail chain owners who have realized that inexpensive products from Ukraine can not only be shipped to third countries in transit, but can also be imported directly and be profitable. That is, this is a problem of their farmers and agricultural producers and their own intermediary and trading businesses, which decided to make their own profit and did not care about the fate of their own farmers. And by banning imports, the EU countries were not dealing with Ukraine and our producers, but with their own speculators.
Bottom line: transit is already resuming (but only as transit). And we can only envy the level of responsibility of their governments and the promptness of their response.
About the author. Oleksiy Holobutsky, political scientist.
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