Geneva, 21 September 2023 (dpa/MIA) - After filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ukraine has requested consultations with its neighbouring countries Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, the organization announced in Geneva on Thursday.

This is following the typical procedure for two disputing parties, who must first try to find a mutually agreeable solution.

If this is not settled within 60 days, an arbitration court is appointed to make a legal assessment of the situation.

The procedure usually takes several months, often more than a year.

Ukraine is a major grain producer but is struggling to export it due to Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for almost 20 months. Because of the ongoing war, usual exports by sea from Ukraine's Black Sea ports have almost come to a complete standstill.

Until last Friday, the export of Ukrainian grain by land via the European Union was subject to restrictions imposed by Brussels due to objections from farmers who feared competition from cheaper imports.

Last week, the European Commission decided not to extend its ban on Ukrainian grain imports that applied to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Poland, Slovakia and Hungary then decided to go their own way and impose restrictive measures themselves, saying they needed to protect their farmers from competition from significantly increased imports from Ukraine.

Photo: MIA archive