Hungary will impose new restrictions on agricultural imports from Ukraine

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary to Impose New Restrictions on Ukrainian Agricultural Imports

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s government will place new restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, the country’s agricultural minister said Thursday, a move designed to protect Hungarian farmers from market fluctuations caused by cheaper Ukrainian imports.

Background

Agricultural Minister István Nagy told a news conference that a 2022 European Union decision to allow for duty-free imports from Ukraine, meant to help keep its economy afloat after Russia’s invasion, had led to “severe oversupply and significantly low prices” in the European agricultural market.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The decision to restrict Ukrainian agricultural imports aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Government’s Response

Agricultural Minister István Nagy blamed the EU and its executive commission for failing to protect European farmers who could not compete with the cheaper imports. He stated that Hungary would pass additional protections “in its national competence.”

“Brussels and the European Commission have betrayed Hungarian farmers and are supporting Ukrainian oligarchs instead,” Nagy said.

Hungary’s Relationship with Ukraine

Hungary has had a fraught relationship with neighboring Ukraine, and is among the EU countries that has offered the least support to Kyiv during its war with Russia.

Soon after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, Hungary declared it would not provide weapons to Kyiv or allow their transfer across its eastern border. It has also argued against sanctions on Moscow and threatened to derail EU financial assistance to its war-ravaged neighbor.

Government’s Plan

Agricultural Minister István Nagy announced a five-point plan to assist Hungarian farmers, which includes:

• Requiring sellers and logistics companies to report restricted products being imported via Ukraine, regardless of their country of origin.
• Subjecting processed products made from Ukrainian grain to the restrictions.

Previous Bans and Recent Developments

Hungary previously introduced a ban on the import of 24 Ukrainian agricultural products, but allowed their transfer across its territory. The ban applied to grains, oil seeds, flour, cooking oil, and several meat products. Ukrainian natural honey was removed from the list last month.

In March, the EU struck a deal to renew its temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the bloc. However, the deal includes a reinforced safeguard that will reintroduce tariff-rate quotas if imports of various staples surpass the average volumes imported in 2022 and 2023.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to several SDGs. The import restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products aim to protect Hungarian farmers from market fluctuations caused by cheaper imports. This connects to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as it aims to support local farmers and ensure food security. Additionally, the article mentions the failure of the EU and its executive commission to protect European farmers, which relates to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The strained relationship between Hungary and Ukraine also highlights the need for partnerships and cooperation, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
• SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
• SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are reducing poverty (SDG 1.2), increasing agricultural productivity and incomes (SDG 2.3), promoting job creation and entrepreneurship (SDG 8.3), promoting social and economic inclusion (SDG 10.2), and enhancing global partnerships (SDG 17.16).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:

• Proportion of men, women, and children living in poverty
• Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers
• Job creation and entrepreneurship rates
• Social and economic inclusion of all individuals
• Level of knowledge sharing, expertise, technology, and financial resources mobilized through partnerships

The article mentions the impact of cheaper Ukrainian imports on Hungarian farmers’ incomes, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards the targets related to poverty reduction (SDG 1.2) and increasing agricultural productivity and incomes (SDG 2.3). The article also highlights the need for job creation and entrepreneurship support for European farmers, indicating the importance of measuring job creation rates (SDG 8.3). The strained relationship between Hungary and Ukraine suggests a potential indicator for measuring social and economic inclusion (SDG 10.2). Lastly, the article mentions the failure of the EU and the need for partnerships, indicating the importance of measuring the level of knowledge sharing, expertise, technology, and financial resources mobilized through partnerships (SDG 17.16).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators