A-Z of EU membership harmonization: Customs

Upon integration with the EU, all customs duties between Poland and the EU are to be lifted. Today - on a mutual basis - they are binding only in the domain of agricultural trade. They are high, which is why the opening of the countryside to western competition may turn out to be a serious challenge. Poland will accept the external customs tariff, which means a threefold reduction of customs. It will also join the agreement concerning free trade. In some sectors, such as textiles, this will constitute a grave problem as foreign products imported without customs duties will be very cheap. (Rzeczpospolita, Dec 14-15, p. A3) A.C.