Last year Ukraine worked in the "minus»

In the week the state statistics service of Ukraine reported that last year recorded a negative balance of trade. The ukrainian import exceeded the export by $2. 6 billion in contrast to the current dismal performance in 2016 ukrgastech reported a foreign trade surplus of $0. 54 billion it is noteworthy that the trade item imports now exceed exports by $6,33 billion (growth of deficit by 2. 2 times compared to 2016). The sad picture is brightened somewhat by the increased export of ukrainian services, but he couldn't get out from the negative trade balance of the country. as Europe defeated Ukraine considering, and with tears, ukrainian experts recalled the recent report of the European union "On the implementation of free trade agreements". The question was about all the partners of the eu (30 countries in the world, including those located far outside of Europe), but in Kiev drew attention to the figures concerning his country. They have clearly shown that effective from 1 january 2016, the first year of the agreement on a deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the European union the Europeans got nine times more benefit than the ukrainians. for the duration of the agreement, the export of goods and services from Europe to Ukraine increased by 17. 6%.

In turn, ukrainian exports to the eu grew only by 1. 9%. Such a modest result, the ukrainian foreign operations the authors of the report explained that the economy in Ukraine is just beginning its recovery. experts in Kiev said another reason for the imbalance in trade with Europe. If Ukraine opened its market to the eu, in response, she put a serious obstacle in the form of various quotas on agricultural products (today the main resource of ukrainian exports). usually, these quotas over a period of six months or even the first quarter. Then begins trading with charging fees, which makes ukrainian products uncompetitive.

This has already been much written. But brussels on quotas does not stop looking for new ways to protect their market. this january, for example, residents of ukrainian villages unexpectedly learned that the new year at the request of eu officials, the country has adopted European quality standards of dairy products. These standards allow for the implementation of food product, milk only of three types: extra class, the highest and first classes. the milk supply to processing plants ukrainian peasants, refers to the second grade. This is the low quality raw materials.

Almost all over the world, it is forbidden to produce milk products. It is taken only in order to make animal feed. meanwhile, second-class milk on the ukrainian market almost 75%. Due to its sale keeps the economy of rural households. The ban threatens the collapse of an entire sector of the economy.

Milk of low quality attracts converters to its purchase price. It is 30-40% lower in comparison with the cost of products supplied to large farms. however, complaints about the quality of the rural milk is very serious. Experts note that "Most of the villagers do not observe elementary rules of hygiene. Milking cows with dirty hands, milk is poured into the dishes, standing in the middle of the yard.

It often fall flies or wasps. In addition, milk is often diluted with water and added antibiotics in order not to get spoiled". talked about this and wrote a long time ago, but the state did nothing to change the situation. Money to help backyard in the treasury not. The only thing that decided the authorities in Kiev under the pressure of mass protests of the villagers, the introduction of new standards was postponed until 1 july. it was hardly the time something will change.

In summer on the pastures going "Big milk", and the problem will worsen even more than in shock january. The case of the ukrainian farmers showed that the eu was not interested in the internal problems of Ukraine. To meet the high European standards, she should solve them herself. experts predict a further decline. Against the failure of foreign trade in Ukraine timid voices were heard about the loss of the Russian market. At the end of last year, speaking at a fitch ratings conference, first deputy prime minister and minister of economy stepan kubiv has evaluated these losses in full $ 15 billion. Your message kubiv was accompanied by the usual for Ukraine rhetoric about "The annexation of crimea and the conflict in the Donbass", however, was forced to admit that the rupture of bilateral relations has cost his country the loss of 20 percent of the economy.

This was accompanied by accelerating deindustrialization, increased outflow of professional personnel, the loss of a large part of its scientific potential. the association with the eu in no way compensated for these losses. The fact that for Europeans, the main point of association with Ukraine lies in expanding the market for their products, and ukrainian goods are there waiting mostly in the form of raw materials. Wide popularity has received a request from brussels to Kiev to allow the export of round timber. less is known about the situation with sunflower seeds. Long enough Ukraine exported in significant volumes.

Then he raised the export duty on sunflower. It has become profitable to rework on site. In the end, Ukraine became one of the largest producers and exporters of sunflower oil. the eu is obliged kyiv to abolish export duties on oilseeds and provide free export of sunflower. Thus began the reverse process.

Now sunflower seeds are taken to Europe. There they are processed and return back the finished vegetable oil. The ukrainians are losing not only a premium for deep processing of raw materials, but also lose legitimate jobs. a similar scheme to put the same trade imbalance that was fixed now ukrainian statistics. It is known that the raw materials cost much less finished products and even products.

And here – a solid "A minus". For example, postmaydannoy years, the export of chemical industry products fell by half. kyiv oracles of propaganda explain this by the fact that earlier Ukraine bought raw materials for chemistry in the cis countries (which is true). Then of it did fertilizers and exported them. Now this has stopped working because of the mutual sanctions with russia.

Hence the collapse in external trade. less talking about the fact that "A minus" have left the indicators on export supplies of cast iron and ferroalloys, production of pulp and paper industry and mechanical engineering. But the 12% increase in the export of iron ore, which only confirms the fact that the Europeans see Ukraine mostly as a raw material appendage of its economy. As such, it is difficult to rely on favorable results in foreign trade. Experts predict that the sad result, fixed ukrgastechnica is only the beginning of a protracted downturn, which in the future will bring even more dismal imbalances in trade relations between Ukraine and the eu. it is difficult to say now who will be blamed for the failures of the country Kiev officials. One thing is clear: the answer to this must be sought in the text 486 articles of the association agreement with the eu before signing either did not read, or deliberately put the country in adverse external conditions, agreeing to disadvantageous regulations in the trade.

Going to live with it.