ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE EU

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of the dynamics, state and structure of Ukraine's foreign trade with the countries of the European Union. The foreign economic activity of Ukraine under the terms of the Association Agreement and free trade zones, the application of the trade part of which began in January 2016, is considered. It was found that a characteristic feature of recent years is the deindustrialization of exports and the consolidation of its agricultural specialization. It is demonstrated that the domestic economy continues to establish itself in international markets as a key agricultural player. The relations between Ukraine and the EU are studied. It is highlighted that Ukraine is considered an important political and trade partner of the European Union. It has been proven that the EU is striving for ever closer relations with Ukraine, going beyond just cooperation, to gradual economic integration and deepening political cooperation. The analysis of the commodity structure of Ukraine's foreign trade in 2020 and showed that the main goods focused on the international market were vegetable products, base metals and articles thereof, machinery and equipment, mineral products, fats and oils of vegetable and animal origin, chemical products, land vehicles, aircraft, floating vehicles. It is determined that the largest share in the structure of exports and imports of services was occupied by services for processing material resources, transport services, telecommunications services, computer and information services, business services, royalties and other services related to the use of intellectual property, services related to financial activities. The study singles out such European countries as Germany, Poland, Italy and the Netherlands as Ukraine's main foreign trade partners. It is proved that the situation with trade between Ukraine and the EU does not seem very clear, that the structure of exports remains mainly raw materials and low-tech. It has been proven that the reduction of EU import duties has not led to significant changes in the structure of foreign trade, that there is a negative foreign trade balance for most groups of goods and services, which negatively affects the balance of payments and economic growth. It is proved that multilateral cooperation with the European Union today fully corresponds to the natural geopolitical direction of Ukraine's integration strategy and is one of the main practical means of forming an effective open economy.