Ukraine, Moldova amend free trade agreement

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of Moldova Natalia Gavrilița signed a Protocol between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Republic of Moldova on amendments to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

They signed the document during a meeting in Chisinau on August 28, the Government portal reports.

According to PM Shmyhal, the amendments to the FTA stipulate that pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin will be applied in trade between Ukraine and Moldova.

"This is a drastic change in trade relations. The transition to these rules of origin unites the Ukrainian and Moldovan Association Agreements with the EU into one system. A year ago, we took such a step with Georgia. Now, we are combining the trade regimes of all the countries of the Associated Trio with each other and with the EU," he stressed.

Shmyhal noted that the system of pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation allows trading in goods that are made from components that can originate from all countries in this system.

"This protocol is another step towards the withdrawal of the Associated Trio from the CIS trade relations and the transition to an EU-centric economy," he said.

For her part, PM Gavrilița noted that the Protocol reaffirms its readiness to promote trade relations between the two countries, in particular on the path to European integration.

As reported, on Friday, August 27, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Moldova's independence.