Poland and Hungary maintain bans on Ukrainian grain imports despite new EU trade deal

Despite the entry into force of the new trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine, Poland and Hungary have kept unilateral bans on imports of Ukrainian grain and certain agricultural products, according to statements from the two countries’ ministries.

As of October 29, 2025, the European Union has officially ended the period of full trade liberalization with Ukraine. The updated agreement now restores the framework established under the Association Agreement, partially reintroducing import duties on sensitive goods such as grain, sugar, poultry, and eggs, while also introducing safeguard mechanisms to protect the EU’s internal market.

At the same time, the governments of Poland and Hungary announced they will not reopen their markets to Ukrainian grain despite the new rules. Warsaw confirmed that its indefinite ban on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, and their processed products remains in place. Hungary has also kept its own restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports, citing the need to protect domestic markets and farmers.

Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy stated that “Brussels is in a state of war psychosis and is subordinating all decisions to Ukraine’s interests,” which, in his view, threatens the EU’s food security. The Polish Agriculture Ministry, in turn, emphasized that the new agreement does not affect the current national bans.

On October 14, Ukraine and the European Union approved a decision to remove some tariffs and increase export quotas for agricultural products. The new trade agreement took effect on October 29.