Spatial features of trade in goods between Ukrainian regions and France

Abstract

Trade relations with EU countries have intensified since the signing of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The EU lifted trade restrictions on Ukrainian exports and allowed Ukraine to expand trade in goods with the most developed countries, including France. In this paper, we aim to exam-ine the spatial features of trade between Ukrainian regions and France in the context of growing trade and economic relations. We applied various methods such as comparative geographical analysis, statistical analysis, mapping, time series approach, typology and correlation analysis to study the dynamics of trade in goods between Ukrainian regions and France from 2017 to 2021 and to reveal the main geographical features in the distribution of export-import flows. Trade turnover with France increased the most in regions with a high level of socio-economic development. It was found that trade between the regions of Ukraine and France is characterised by spatial asymmetry due to the element of geographical distance. Compared to the eastern regions, the western regions have a higher volume of exports and imports of commodities and a higher coefficient of trade linkage with France. In the spatial differentiation of trade in goods between Ukraine and France, there is a high variability and asymmetry in export and import measures.