Belarus adopted a decision on an individual licensing regime for the import of a series of Ukrainian goods: confectionery, chocolate, juices, beer, sowing machinery, etc.
"According to current information, Belarus has introduced a regime of individual licensing for the import of a number of Ukrainian goods: confectionery, chocolate, juices, beer, chipboard and fiberboard, wallpaper, toilet paper and packaging, bricks, ceramic tiles, school ampoules, agricultural sowing machinery, washing machines, and furniture. This decision was approved by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of Belarus of May 26. The decision will take effect 10 days after publication and will remain in force for six months," Ukrinform reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Economy.
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine emphasizes that such actions are unjustified and discriminatory. The individual licensing regime means manual control over the import of Ukrainian products to Belarus. The Government holds consultations with producers to address the negative effects of discriminatory actions by the Belarusian government.
Belarus ranked sixth among Ukraine's partners in foreign trade in goods in 2020 but dropped to the seventh position in the first quarter of 2021.
In 2020, Ukraine-Belarus trade turnover totaled $4.2 billion. (-20.6% by 2019): exports of goods - $1.3 billion (-13.8%), imports of goods - $2.9 billion (-23.4%).
On May 25, Ukraine announced that it will ban air traffic with Belarus starting May 26 as the fallout continued from May 22’s dramatic forced landing of an EU airliner and passenger abduction in Minsk. Ukraine decided to join EU member states in imposing tough flight restrictions on Belarus in response to the unprecedented incident, which has been widely branded as an act of “state-sponsored piracy” and a direct challenge to international security norms.
Moreover, on May 26, Ukraine's National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities made a decision to limit electricity imports from Russia and Belarus until October 1, 2021.
