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Ukraine accuses Belarus of breaking its promise to lift candy import ban

The Belarusian government has not yet kept its promise to lift a ban on the import of Ukrainian-made candies, Oleksandr Baldynyuk, president of the Ukrkondprom candy industry association, told BelaPAN on Monday.

The imports were suspended at the beginning of April, prompting Ukrainian companies to appeal to the national government for help, Mr. Baldynyuk said.

Ukrainian ministers raised this issue during talks with Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka earlier this month and so did representatives of several Ukrainian ministries in Minsk on April 11, he said.

“Belarus promised to settle the issue, but nothing so far has been done,” Mr. Baldynyuk said. “Belarusian officials are buying time to keep competitors out of the market. They are not just checking some specific products. They have imposed a blanket ban on Ukrainian candies.”

Mr. Baldynyuk stressed that such policies “run counter to the spirit” of Belarusian-Ukrainian agreements aimed at increasing bilateral trade and ensuring unimpeded access to the other country’s market.