17/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Council of Ministers of the EU gave approval on Monday 17 July to granting temporary autonomous trade preferences for a number of Ukrainian agricultural and industrial products in addition to what is offered by the EU in the EU-Ukraine free-trade agreement. The European Parliament gave its green light on 4 July to the package of measures proposed by the Commission in autumn 2016 to support the Ukrainian economy in view of the difficult economic situation and costly economic reform efforts undertaken. The measures consist of additional import quotas, a zero rate of duty for certain agricultural products and the partial or total removal of import duties for several industrial products for a period of three years. They will come into force following the official signing of the regulation by the co-legislators at the plenary session of the Parliament in September. (EH)