Government fully launches free trade area between Ukraine and North Macedonia

On 2023 15 August, the Government adopted a resolution on changes to the mechanism of customs clearance of goods subject to licensing under the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of North Macedonia.

“Thanks to the adopted document, we are fully implementing the updated Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and North Macedonia, which was ratified in the spring. An important achievement for Ukraine in connection with the agreement is North Macedonia’s accession to the Pan-Euro-Med Regional Convention, which establishes identical rules of origin, and the EUR.1 movement certificate, which confirms the status of preferential origin of goods. In addition, Ukrainian farmers will have better access to common European markets, as they will be able to use components of products manufactured in North Macedonia for products to be sold in the EU,” said Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine.

Thus, the liberalisation of trade with North Macedonia strengthens the position of Ukrainian producers in European and global value chains.

In particular, the adopted resolution changes the mechanism of customs clearance of agricultural goods. From now on, foreign economic operators do not need to obtain licences to import goods from the Republic of North Macedonia within the tariff quota. The customs authorities will distribute the tariff quotas in accordance with the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of North Macedonia on a first-come, first-served basis.