The United Kingdom announced on Monday the elimination of all customs duties for Ukrainian products and the ban on the export of certain sensitive technologies to Russia, in order to help kyiv to face the Russian invasion. “Customs duties on all goods imported from Ukraine will now be reduced to zero, and all quotas will be abolished,” the UK government said in a statement.
This measure responds to a direct request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the statement said. It concerns in particular barley, honey, poultry and canned tomatoes exported by Ukraine to the United Kingdom.
Ban on export to Russia of certain products and technologies
“The UK will continue to do everything in its power to support Ukraine’s fight against Putin’s brutal and unprovoked invasion and help ensure Ukraine’s long-term security and prosperity and of its people,” International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said in the statement.
The United Kingdom has also banned the export to Russia of certain products and technologies that it “could use to suppress the heroic people of Ukraine”, in particular equipment for interception and surveillance of communications.
“This will close any existing loopholes to ensure that Russia does not buy these products from the UK,” the UK statement said.
The British government last week extended the list of its trade sanctions, prohibiting the import of silver, wood products and caviar, and increased customs duties by 35 percentage points on certain products from of Russia and its ally Belarus, particularly on diamonds and rubber.
London claims to have sanctioned since the start of the war in Ukraine more than 1,400 people and companies linked to the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin.