ACAA: integrating into the EU’s industrial products market

In technical barriers to trade, the Association Agreement (AA) foresees the perspective for concluding the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA). Initially, ACAA may cover one or several sectors, and later be gradually extended to all 27 sectors listed in the AA. Potentially, ACAA can cover up to up to a fifth of Ukrainian exports to the EU (primarily machine building products), facilitate trade and raise the image of the goods made in Ukraine on global markets. At the moment, progress made in Ukraine’s homework implementation (harmonisation of legislation, national quality infrastructure and market surveillance with the EU acquis) does allow for concluding the ACAA at least in three sectors. However, the EU has not given any signals about actual prospects for it. In the absence of perspective for a quick conclusion of the ACAA, the harmonised procedures and requirements proved too burdensome, especially for importers.

This publication is a part of the policy paper “Integration within Association: implementation dynamics of the EU-Ukraine Agreement”. The policy paper is available in Ukrainian and English languages.