London: On Monday, the European Union found itself facing renewed appeals to restrict the influx of sugar imports from Ukraine, this time from sugar producers in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific regions, reported Reuters.
In a manner akin to its approach with other commodities, the EU removed import duties on Ukrainian sugar following the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. This decision led to a increase in Ukrainian sugar imports during the 2022-23 season. The surge is anticipated to persist in both the ongoing 2023-24 season, spanning from October to September, prompting European sugar producers to advocate for the reinstatement of import limits.
This plea has resonated with sugar producers in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and other lower-income sugar-producing nations, who assert that the heightened influx of Ukrainian sugar into the bloc is adversely affecting their respective sugar industries.
The ACP/LDC Sugar Industries Group has urged the EU to address the issue in a manner that doesn’t harm Ukraine. One proposed solution is allowing sugar from Ukraine to transit through the bloc on its way to its traditional markets.
The African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, along with the least developed nations in the group, are entitled to supply duty-free and quota-free sugar to the European Union and Britain under special arrangements. The list of eligible countries comprises Belize, Benin, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Fiji, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
