Poland offers to lower customs duties on EU food in return for market access

Poland is ready to withdraw the customs increases on food products it had introduced last year, if Polish food exports gain better access to European Union (EU) markets. Last year Poland raised customs duties on, amongst others, wheat, beef, dairy products and hops imported from the EU. This move lead to last April's breakdown in negotiations on the liberalization of trade in agricultural goods with the EU. The two sides have since been trying to reach an agreement and now it looks like the talks have entered a new phase. Polish negotiators are ready to withdraw the customs increases, but only if Poland is offered a favorable package which would make it possible to balance Poland-EU trade in food products. This would mean giving Polish exporters of fruit, vegetables, horse meat and other Polish export specialties, better access to EU markets. (Rzeczpospolita, page B1) T.J.