Analysts of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) underline that blocking the Ukraine border by Polish truckers is primarily harmful to Poland's economy.
Polish truckers harm their country's economy
The CCD analysts underline that Ukraine is Warsaw's largest trade partner outside the European Union.
What is important to understand is that Poland's trade with Ukraine is greater than with China.
In addition, it is emphasised that during the past year, the export of Polish goods to Ukraine reached about $12 billion, and the export of Ukrainian goods to Poland was $4.7 billion. This means that the trade balance is clearly in favor of Warsaw.
CCD also emphasises that Poland supplies Ukraine with many goods with high added value.
Exports to Ukraine provide Poles with more than 100,000 high-paying jobs. In addition, the blockade causes significant losses to the service sector of Poland, which lost more than 10 million dollars in three months of protests.
According to CCD analysts, the efforts of Polish truckers to avoid competition with Ukrainian ones by blocking the border harms Polish international trade and the labour market, affecting the service sector.
Removing obstacles at the border is a common interest of both Ukraine and Poland.
The complete Ukrainian border blockade: details
On the morning of February 16, Polish farmers are already blocking five checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. About 1,400 trucks were stuck in queues.
According to the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine spokesman, Andriy Demchenko, it is about the directions of the checkpoints Yagodyn, Rava-Ruska, Shegyni, Ustylug, and Ughryniv.
Demchenko noted that carriers are looking for ways to cross the border at those points where it is possible.
One is the Krakow checkpoint, and as of this morning there are queues there as well. This is 1,700 trucks, the most extensive queue in all directions on the border with Poland.
Andriy Demchenko
SBGS speaker
