Hungarian Opinion: Ukraine Files WTO Lawsuit Against Hungary
- 2 Oct 2023 1:53 PM
- BudaPost
A well-known jurist doesn’t think that Ukraine’s complaint to the World Trade Organisation will be successful.
Ukraine has launched legal action against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over their unilateral bans on the import of Ukrainian grain, which it considers to be in ‘violation of their international obligations.’
An EU ban on imported Ukrainian grain was in force from May to 15 September in order to protect European farmers from ’unfair competition’ as Ukrainian producers don’t adhere to Europe’s costly environmental and safety requirements. When the European ban expired, the three countries (now joined by Romania) nevertheless kept the ban in force, arguing that Ukrainian grain should be forwarded to its original markets in poor countries.
In Magyar Nemzet, Zoltán Lomniczi Jr, an expert on international law explains that as a result of the Ukrainian Lawsuit, the three countries and Ukraine should conduct consultations to resolve the conflict.
He believes the ban on Ukrainian grain imports is not contrary to WTO rules, since it aims at protecting domestic markets against dumping-like competition. The WTO body in charge of settling disputes, Lomniczi continues, cannot impose sanctions even if it finds the three countries in violation of WTO rules. Sanctions could only be imposed by the other member states, he adds.
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