On 14 October 2025, the Association Committee in Trade Configuration (ACTC) adopted a decision to reduce and abolish import duties in accordance with Article 29(4) of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community, and their Member States, on the other.

This decision effectively marks a new stage in the functioning of the EU–Ukraine free trade area. It is the first joint step after several years of unilateral EU preferences (2022–2025), moving trade relations into a stable contractual framework.

“The Ukrainian economy is an important part of the Single European Market. Today’s decision confirms this and also sends a signal of support to our producers, who continue to work, export, and sustain the country’s economy during wartime. Ukrainian exporters will be able to benefit from the new trade regime as early as this year. We value such relations with our partners and are working to ensure that trade between Ukraine and the EU becomes ever deeper and more mutually beneficial,” commented Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

What does the document change?

• Abolishes or reduces import duties and increases quotas on Ukrainian goods. These will now be defined and set out in a new Annex I‑E, to be incorporated into the Agreement as an integral part.
• Establishes the volume of tariff quotas until the end of 2025 – seven twelfths of the updated annual quotas, excluding the volume already exported between 6 June 2025 and the entry into force of the updated trade regime.
• Enters into force 15 days after adoption (i.e. on 29 October 2025).
• Provides for a review in 2028 to assess whether the level of liberalisation corresponds to the development of trade relations and the progress of incorporating EU agricultural standards into Ukrainian legislation. This could pave the way for further removal of trade barriers in the future.
• The decision is bilateral and of indefinite duration.