Ukraine is able to negotiate with the U.S. to elevate all tariffs on American items, Deputy Economic system Minister and Commerce Consultant Taras Kachka instructed Ukrainska Pravda in an interview printed on April 8.
Kachka stated Ukraine was ready to zero out duties on U.S. imports, which quantity to roughly $3–4 billion yearly and are already topic to both low or no tariffs.
"Our precedence is the abolition of duties, not escalation," he stated, emphasizing Ukraine's want to take care of robust financial and diplomatic ties with Washington.
The transfer is available in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariff coverage, introduced on April 2 as a part of what he known as "Liberation Day."
Trump, who has framed the tariff regime as a bid to revitalize American manufacturing and struggle again in opposition to international exploitation, stated the U.S. had been "looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered" for many years.
Ukraine was hit with a ten% blanket tariff on its exports — decrease than the 20% imposed on the European Union and the accumulative 104% on China, however nonetheless a setback for a rustic at conflict.
Kyiv's metallurgy sector, a significant supply of Ukrainian exports to the U.S., was already impacted by a 25% tariff imposed in March. Regardless of this, Kachka signaled that Ukraine wouldn’t retaliate and as a substitute hopes to have interaction in a "delicate dialogue" to resolve the difficulty.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
In 2023, Ukrainian exports to the U.S. totaled simply $874 million, whereas imports from the U.S. reached $3.4 billion. The general commerce quantity has declined in recent times, however the tariffs may deepen the imbalance, particularly in the event that they set off broader protectionist measures globally.
Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's Economic system Minister, known as the brand new U.S. tariffs on April 3 "troublesome, however not crucial," saying Kyiv remained targeted on long-term financial resilience and worldwide cooperation.
Oleksandra Myronenko, an analyst on the Heart for Financial Technique in Kyiv, warned {that a} international commerce conflict triggered by the brand new tariffs may nonetheless have knock-on results for Ukraine.
"Even when we're not the primary goal, we may really feel the fallout," she instructed the Kyiv Impartial.
Russia was not among the many international locations and territories topic to the wide-ranging tariffs as the prevailing sanctions "preclude any significant commerce," White Home spokesperson Karoline Leavitt claimed.
Kyiv's technique now facilities on preserving entry to international markets and sustaining steady ties with Washington amid rising uncertainty over future U.S. financial and safety commitments.
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell