FOA-Empowering
Ukrainian Agricultural Associations (USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-21-0005); December
11, 2020
Agency
US
Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS)
Description
As
Ukraine harmonizes their regulations to EU standards under the Deep
Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), Ukraine runs the risk of introducing
trade barriers that could negatively impact U.S. agricultural trade and limit
global market access. The DCFTA is an integral part of the EU's Association
Agreement. Ukraine also lacks adequate institutional knowledge and resources to
reform their animal health, plant health, and food safety regulatory systems. If
Ukraine fully harmonizes its regulations along EU standards, some U.S.
agricultural products would likely lose market access. This situation gives the
U.S. an opening to help guide Ukraine through the approximation process, in
order to find solutions that are favorable to Ukraine’s, and the United States’
trade interests, while also voicing USDA’s concerns about how some of the EU’s
non-scientific based SPS requirements may potentially limit Ukraine’s
competitiveness and access to global markets. These capacity building efforts
will also serve to strengthen Ukraine’s obligation to meet World Trade
Organization (WTO) science-based requirements.
Within
Ukraine, the lack of representation among agricultural associations means that
an important voice is lost when legislation is drafted, as only those
organizations with pre-existing relationships can advocate on their behalf. The
inability of small and medium-sized businesses to express their concerns about
the risks and challenges they face on a national level leaves Ukrainian
legislators with an incomplete picture of the challenges faced by the
agricultural sector. By strengthening the Ukrainian associations, not associated
with their incorporated businesses, USDA can help give small and medium-sized
enterprises the opportunity to express their concerns with the approximation
process, as well as their desire to continue to trade with a wider
market.
The
project’s approach equips government officials and the business community with
complementary tools to promote and implement science based and internationally
recognized standards. The project’s longer-term goal is to institutionalize
feedback mechanisms among Ukraine’s agricultural sector and regional and
national governments. By enabling the agricultural community to better influence
Ukrainian legislators, we ensure that Ukrainian businesses can make clear the
impact of legislation on all aspects of Ukrainian agricultural trade, and secure
Ukraine’s ability to maintain their trade relationship with the United States.
Objectives:
·
To
identify Ukrainian agricultural associations with high potential for growth and
impact, specifically in regard to collective action;
·
To
improve the technical capacity of leading agricultural associations in
Ukraine;
·
To
develop Ukrainian association capacity to monitor and comment on draft
legislation to ensure Ukraine’s alignment with WTO science-based
standards;
·
To
engage with U.S., and regional associations within the same
sector;
·
To
enhance Ukrainian agricultural association influence and access in both regional
and national administrations.
Announcement
Number
USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-21-0005
Closing
Date
December
11, 2020
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329735
Contact
Information
Eric
Brownstein
202-649-3872