Foreign Trade of Horticulture Products in Poland and Ukraine in Light of the Association Agreement

Purpose: The aim of the article was to assess the impact of Ukraine's accession to the EU on the horticultural sector in Poland. What was also important it was to select products that could pose a threat to the growth of Polish product exports to the EU. Design/Methodology/Approach: The main tool for analyzing trade trends and changes between Ukraine, Poland, and the EU is a static and dynamic turnover analysis using comparative methods. To assess trade liberalization effects in horticulture, trend analysis and qualitative methods examine political, economic, and legal impacts. The materials for research were data from Comtrade, Eurostat, FAO, the Statistics Poland and the Ministry of Finance. Findings: The research shows that after signing of the Association Agreement, the increase in exports from Ukraine to the EU concerned mainly products that are also of significant importance in Polish exports to the Common Market. The increase in exports from Ukraine to the EU was of primary importance in reducing the meaning of Polish supplies of frozen raspberries. Once Ukraine becomes a full member of the EU, the competition for Polish supplies will continue to be concentrated juices and frozen fruits. Due to the high demand on Ukraine's domestic market, exports from Ukraine to the EU will not generally increase exports from this country to the EU of fresh vegetables and their preserves. Practical Implications: The results of the research shall be of interest for scientists, politicians and decision makers. The obtained conclusions may be helpful in formulating a national strategy regarding support for the horticultural sector in the context of EU enlargement. Originality/Value: The analysis of changes in trade and the assessment of the influence of supply offer from Ukraine is of great importance for horticultural producers and processors in the context of making strategic decisions.