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Trump discusses duty-free trade zone with the US for Ukraine

Trump discusses duty-free trade zone with the US for Ukraine

Artur Romanchenko Journalist

22 January 2026, 15:00

Trump discusses duty-free trade zone with the US for Ukraine — US Special Representative Steve Witkoff, screenshot from video speech

In Davos, the US President`s special envoy stated that the idea of duty-free trade with Ukraine could give Kyiv a significant competitive advantage and accelerate the revival of industry.

During discussions, US President Donald Trump spoke about the possibility of creating a duty-free trade zone between Ukraine and the United States. This was announced on 22 January by US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during the Ukrainian Breakfast at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

According to Witkof, the idea of a duty-free zone could be a game changer for the Ukrainian economy. He noted that in the absence of customs duties on goods supplied to the United States, Ukrainian manufacturers would gain a significant advantage over their competitors. In his opinion, this could stimulate the rapid return of industrial enterprises and investments to the region.

The special envoy stressed that such initiatives are being discussed as a way to support Ukraine in the context of war and economic challenges. He emphasised that the Ukrainian people deserve such decisions because of the courage and resilience they have shown in the fight against Russian aggression.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka noted that large-scale investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine over the next ten years could reach eight hundred billion dollars or more. According to him, the implementation of such plans will require not one, but a whole series of international legal decisions.

World Economic Forum, Davos, USA, Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff

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