Analysis of trade policy measures of the countries that are the top-10 importers of Ukrainian products

Project objective:

The project aims to examine the response measures, expectations, and behavioural strategies of importers of Ukrainian products in Ukraine’s key export markets in order to develop recommendations for mitigating their potential adverse impact on Ukrainian exporters. The research was conducted as part of the preparation of Ukraine’s Export Strategy 2030.

Tasks:

• Develop a methodology to identify the 10 key importing countries for Ukrainian products, along with the key sectors for each country.
• Prepare guides for conducting interviews with representatives of Ukrainian embassies in importing countries, businesses, and business associations of importing countries to collect primary information.
• Conduct at least 30 interviews (at least 3 interviews per country, at least 1 interview with embassy representatives and 2 with representatives of businesses and business associations).
• Analyse the countermeasures, expectations, and behavioural strategies of key importers of Ukrainian products in the top-10 importing countries under the wartime conditions in Ukraine, based on publicly available documents and media publications.
• Conduct an analysis of statistical information on Ukraine’s role and the dynamics of trade with Ukraine for the key importing countries.
• Prepare the analytical report “Assessment of countermeasures, expectations, and behavioural strategies of key importers of Ukrainian products in the top-10 importing countries under the wartime conditions in Ukraine.”
• Develop recommendations for Ukraine to minimise the potential negative impact of measures on Ukrainian exporters to strengthen their positions in the respective markets.
• Present results during a public discussion.

The project developed a research methodology and conducted more than 30 interviews with representatives of Ukrainian embassies, business associations, chambers of commerce, and companies operating in partner-country markets. Based on the findings, the analytical report “Assessment of countermeasures, expectations, and behavioural strategies of key importers of Ukrainian products in the top-10 importing countries under the wartime conditions in Ukraine” was prepared, together with recommendations to mitigate the potential adverse impact of importers’ response measures on Ukrainian exporters and strengthen their position in the respective markets. The findings were presented at a public event held on 28 May 2025.

The research was commissioned under the TIPSTER Project, implemented by the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine with the support of GIZ GmbH and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.