The European Commission on Tuesday adopted a proposal for temporarily removing customs duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU.

The idea is not to await the entry into force of the Association Agreement's provisions on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), but to advance the implementation of its tariffs section by means of autonomous trade preferences and to start unilaterally the reduction or elimination of the EU's customs duties on goods originating in Ukraine, European Commission said in a statement.

“The European Commission is committed, and ready, to support Ukraine to stabilize its economic and financial situation," said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

However, the preferences are not a substitute for the DCFTA and will be granted for a limited period only: until 1 November 2014. It is expected that the DCFTA between the EU and Ukraine will be signed and provisionally apply before the 1st November 2014 in which case the unilateral system of autonomous trade preferences ends.