Transport visa-free: How the agreement on the liberalization of freight transport with the EU changed the face of Ukrainian exports

From January 1, 2024, new laws affecting the transport and logistics industry came into force in Ukraine. These important changes arose as a result of the introduction of a binding agreement on the liberalization of freight transport by Ukraine and the European Union, often called “transport visa-free”. According to information from the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, this agreement has already affected the export of Ukrainian goods, ensuring its growth by no less than 30%, if compared with previous pre-war indicators.
The export of products from Ukraine to European countries was marked by an impressive growth of up to 40% compared to 2022 and by 30% in 2023 from 2021. Regarding imports, goods to Ukraine with the European Union increased by 11% in 2022 and by 25% in 2023 compared to 2021, covering the period before the signing of the agreement. Since the entry into force of the agreement, the number of goods imported to the EU from Ukraine has increased by 48%, and imports have increased by 44%.
It is important to note that any violation of the terms of the agreement, in particular, the blockade of checkpoints by Polish protesters, is noted as a factor that negatively affects the Ukrainian economy and exports, according to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine – the Minister of Community and Territorial Development and infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov.