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In recent years, Ukraine has been Increasing the import of agri-food products at a rate that signfiicantly exceeds the rate of increase іп exports. As a result, the Import-export coverage ratio is decreasing, and for many commodity groups and commodity items, instead of a positive trade baiance, a negative one appears. This article is devoted to the study of the formation of volume, dynamics, structure and reasons for the increase in the cost of imports based on the use of inethods and techniques of economic and statistical analysis. The paper states that the main reason for the increase in the volume and value of imports is the disproportion between the Iow growth rates of domestic production of agricultural and food industry products and the high growth rates of household incomes. The Iatter circumstance contributes to the formation of a constantly growing demand and a shortage of goods for individual commodity items, which is covered by an increase іп imports. The analysis of the commodity and geographic structures of imports of goods of four product sections was carried out in accordance with UKTVED. It has been estaЫished that for a number of commodity groups and commodity items of the first, second and fourth sections, imports increase for such types of products for the production of which Ukraine has the necessary conditions (Iivestock products, vegetaЫes, fruits, berries, seeds of cereals and oilseeds, most of the commodity food groups). Increasing the production of these types of products can significantly reduce their imports. For products of other commodity groups and commodity items in Ukraine, there are no necessary conditions (tropical crops, fish and crustaceans, etc.) and the cost of imports is determined by the financial capabilities of importers. The study of the geographicaI structure shows that the main exporters of agri-food products to Ukraine are the countriea of the European Union, which fully use the conditions of the free trade zone with Ukraine and are the main suppliers of products of the first and fourth sections (products of animal origin, some prepared food ргоducts). It is for these types of goods that a significant negative ЬаІапсе is formed in trade with the EU соuntries. . It has аІао been estaЫished that imports from other regiona of the world take pIace mainly for thoae types of products that are not produced in Ukraine. The conclusions provide recommendations that relate to the possibilities of reducing imports, mainly Ьу increasing domestic production, without excluding the use of administrative regulation for certain types of goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geographic potential of Ukraine in the global maritime trade market has not been realized. The maritime potential of Ukraine has been studied and the priority directions for the implementation of national security and state policy have been identified. It has been noted that modern society forms a powerful macroeconomic demand for the development of transport infrastructure, as the most important basic factor for sustainable and dynamic growth of the Ukrainian economy, strengthening its position in the domestic and international arena. In these conditions, the role of maritime security as an element of the political order is growing. This aspect of national security should be taken into account in the strategic planning of state policy, many economic, environmental, social factors. It has been proved that within the framework of international political regulation of activities at sea, international institutions, national stakeholders act as guarantors of maritime security, exerting a regulatory and controlling influence on the behavior of individual states, ship owners in the interests of the international maritime community. The authors have analyzed the main international documents related to the safety of navigation, concluded that Ukraine needs to complete the harmonization of its legislation in accordance with international maritime safety standards. The development of topics for national security problems should not be based on a situational-sectoral approach, but on the use of a systemic-synergetic methodology, which is based on a predictive version of the development of socio-political events. Environmental risks give rise to a certain state of mass public consciousness - environmental stress arising in the process of a gradual or sudden threat to nature and human life. The absence of effective nongovernmental environmental organizations in the Black Sea region leads to the emergence of projects, the environmental consequences of which are difficult to predict. Analysis of Ukraine's maritime potential made it possible to formulate the main priorities: maintaining and further increasing the volume of transit trade through the ports of Ukraine; creation of a network of specialized port complexes for handling transit cargo; ensuring the balance of the port infrastructure. Zones of infrastructure development of ports should become a promising form of organizing free territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect of Ukraine-Israel relations -- the history of the creation of a free trade zone between the two states is revealed in the article. Based on materials from current archives and open source data, the dynamic work process of preparation for signing the corresponding interstate agreement, its ratification by the parliaments of the countries is shown. It was found that it is a voluminous and labor-intensive process that requires consideration of the interests of the national economies of the two states; the creation of a free trade area has been the subject of many bilateral negotiations. Even the ratification of the agreement by the parliaments of the states for some objective reasons did not become a quick process. The national interests of the parties are taken into account in the relevant interstate document. Economic connections have always been an important and promising component of Ukrainian-Israeli relations. However, the parties have repeatedly pointed to the unsatisfactory level of economic relations. The interstate agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the State of Israel has its pros and cons, but in general we can talk about a significant improvement in many indicators that it can potentially bring. Although the process of creating a free trade area is incomplete, its study all the same is important in view of the importance of creating such a zone for both foreign economic relations of Ukraine and Israel and for development of friendly bilateral relations between them in general. While the agreement is not implemented, we have to be satisfied with the positive dynamics of economic relations, which is reflected in statistical indicators. They testify that the State of Israel is a very important trade partner of Ukraine in the Middle East. The Free trade area should bring beneficial results to Ukraine and Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the current state of trade of agri-food products of Ukraine and the EU. It has been established that in recent years, the EU countries have become one of the most important importers of agricultural and food products, which is associated with the operation of the free trade zone. It has been established that export to EU countries is complicated by an extremely limited range of goods. The basis of export is only eight commodity items: poultry meat, natural honey, wheat, corn, soybeans, rapeseed, unrefined sunflower oil and oilseed meal, which account for 83.0 -84.9% of the total exports. There is a tendency for the main EU partners to increase imports of plant products only. In the analysis of the export commodity structure, the prevalence of agricultural products was established, but its share is gradually reduced with an increase in food production. A comparative analysis of the volume of exports and imports was carried out for the goods of the four product sections, respectively, with UKTVED. The study shows that imports of animal products and prepared food products significantly exceed exports, despite the fact that in recent years, Ukrainian exports have been dynamically developing for these products. At the same time, products of plant origin and fats and oils of animal and vegetable origin form a constantly growing positive balance, which determines the results as a whole. The surplus for the period 2013-2017. increased by 2.6 times. The main causes of the formation of a negative balance for certain product groups have been investigated. The paper emphasizes that the main way to achieve a positive balance should be a substantial increase in exports, and not just a reduction in imports. Based on the analysis, recommendations are presented for increasing the production and sales of products of certain product groups in the EU markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]