Ukraine could take reciprocal measures in response to EU's extending restrictions on agricultural export after Sept 15 - Deputy PM Sviridenko

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - Ukraine strongly opposes the European Union's extending its discriminatory ban on supplies of a range of agricultural goods to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania after September 15, Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Trade Yulia Sviridenko said at a meeting with the European Business Association on Wednesday.

"The president, the prime minister and all of us [the government] are of the opinion that September 15 is the final critical date. There could be no extension of these restrictions for Ukraine after it," Ukrainian media quoted Sviridenko as saying.

The ban on export of wheat, barley, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to the five EU countries is "discrimination by our closest neighbors," she said.

"It appears for us to be not quite a friendly step, to speak with moderation. This is why we insist during all talks, ranging from the president's [level] to [the level of] all ministries, that September 15 is the critical, final date, after which we see no possibility of extending these terms. This is discrimination against Ukraine," Sviridenko said.

When asked what would happen if the ban extended again, she said that Ukraine would be forced to consider reciprocal measures.

"I would not like to speak it out loud and consider it a realistic step, but we think that some reciprocal measures could be taken," she said.

As reported, the European Union's ban on import of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds from Ukraine took effect on May 2 and replaced unilateral imports-ban decisions by the countries neighboring Ukraine, in particular Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia, made on April 28 in violation of the Association Agreement and the EU's internal norms.

On June 5, the European Commission extended the aforementioned restrictions until September 15 after deciding that problems caused by such imports are still pending. However, after that date, representatives of the five countries have repeatedly said that the restrictions need to be extended after September 15 and that more goods could be restricted.