Current EU members brace themselves for flood of Polish food imports...

Domestic producers are seen as being eager to enter the competitive EU market as they believe they can offer products of similar quality but at much lower prices. Figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy give some indication of the possible future scenario, with food exports to the EU in 2003 rising by 44% on the previous year. Furthermore, 2002's EUR 300 million trade deficit was replaced in 2003 with a EUR 200 million surplus. Given that these positive results were all due to initial liberalization of trade with the EU two years ago, the post-May 1 future seems to bode well for the country's food producers. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. B1, A2) J.J.