Tatyana Gracheva

As German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir said before a meeting of the European Union’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council configuration (AGRIFISH) that was held in Brussels on Tuesday, European Council representatives achieved a compromise on extending the autonomous trade measures for admitting Ukrainian agrarian products to the European market through a dialogue. Germany welcomes it and will continue to help Ukraine normalize its exports to global markets, including to countries of the Global South.
According to Ozdemir, the compromise is welcomed and it enjoyed massive support in Germany. Ukrainian media quoted that Germany was interested in ensuring the continuation of Ukrainian exports of agricultural products, primarily to destinations in the Global South, where food products are needed urgently.
Nevertheless, the Minister said that wheat had been called for excluding from the list of sensitive products by Berlin.
The compromise was described by Ozdemir as “reasonable,” as the EU agricultural sector’s and Ukraine’s interests are simultaneously promoted by it.
According to the report, a provisional deal on renewing the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU until June 5, 2025 was reached by the European Parliament and the European Council on Monday. Protective measures for farmers in EU countries have also been provided.
As the European Parliament said in a statement on its website, these unilateral trade liberalization measures will help stabilize the Ukrainian economy and facilitate the country’s gradual integration into the EU’s internal market.
It was also said that the European Commission will be empowered to take swift action and impose any measures it deems necessary in the instance of significant disruption to the EU market or the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports, for instance wheat.
For example, the EU may apply an emergency brake for particularly sensitive agricultural products, i.e. poultry, eggs, sugar, oats, groats, maize and honey as part of reinforced safeguard measures aimed at protecting its farmers. The extension of the reference period used as a base for employing this automatic safeguard was agreed on by negotiators.
Nevertheless, tariffs would be reviewed if imports of these products rise above the average of import volumes recorded in the second half of 2021 over the whole of 2022 and 2023. It was also committed by the European Commission to step up its monitoring of imports of grain, particularly wheat.
NH Logistics UKR has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Ukraine and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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As Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, noted on Saturday, the bilateral trade turnover with Georgia amounted to $2 billion and increased by 48 percent in 2023, compared to the previous year. The total number of investments from China to Georgia exceeded $800 million.
The Ambassador said in his exclusive interview with Imedi TV channel that China has been one of Georgia’s leading trade partners and the largest investor for many years. He also explained that Georgia’s favorable geographical location and free trade regimes with many countries makes it interesting for Chinese companies.
“Readiness” of the Chinese companies to engage in the process of developing Georgia as an energy, transport and digital hub was emphasized by Qian, as well as the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two states and the benefit of the implementation of the visa-free regime in this regard were also stressed by him.
According to the Ambassador, the Chinese Railway Department is ready to be “actively involved” in the investment, construction and operation of the Georgian railway, ports, as well as energy and other projects, which would be connected to the Middle Corridor, a multimodal transport corridor connecting China to Europe through the South Caucasus.
One Belt One Road initiative, the Chinese global infrastructure development strategy to invest in more than 150 countries, including Georgia, was also highlighted by Qian. He said that Georgia was “the first to respond to” this initiative and become a beneficiary of China’s “huge market”.
Middle Corridor plays a very important role for Georgia. Chinese companies are also interested in “all infrastructure projects”.
As Qian announced, the visa-free regime between the countries would “most likely” be officially signed in April and would be implemented in the coming months. He also noted that China and Georgia were “actively working” to add more direct flights.
People-to-people contacts will be undoubtedly facilitated, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries will also be activated and the number of Chinese tourists [in Georgia] will be increased due to this. The Chinese Ambassador expressed his hope for preservation of the spirit of the historical Silk Road and strengthening of cooperation of the two people in the future.
Qian announced Georgia’s participation in the international tourism exhibition – ITB China – that will take place in May in Shanghai and pointed out that Georgia and cooperation between tourist agencies of the two states would be further promoted in China.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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GEOSTAT data reports that trade between Georgia and Armenia reached 100.623 million USD in January-February 2024 (103.2 million USD less than in the same period of the previous year).
Compared to the same period of 2023, exports from Georgia fell down from 133.082 million USD to 78.795 million USD in January-February 2024.
Imports decreased by almost 50 million USD compared to the same period of 2023 year and attained 21,828 million USD.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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