The article discusses the relevance of liberalization of trade relations, which has a positive impact on the change in trade turnover; the approaches to understanding the category of «trade wars» are defined; a list of forms of trade wars as well as a brief characterization of them is provided. The methods of conducting offensive and defensive trade wars are studied. Attention is accorded to the generalized and formalized consequences of the conduct of trade wars on the example of the functioning of enterprises in the agricultural industry sector of Ukraine, the definition of which aims at eliminating the problems identified in agricultural enterprises, along with development of the corresponding preventive measures. The specifics of conduct of trade wars between Ukraine, Russia, the USA, China and the EU are considered. It is determined that the tendencies in the development of the Ukrainian agricultural sector are directly dependent on global economic trends. The dynamics of commodity structure of exports of agricultural and food products of Ukraine is studied, on the basis of which it is possible to draw conclusions about benefits and losses for the country. The weaknesses in Ukraine’s export-import policy are identified, including the lack of personnel in agriculture, the problems of logistics and the attraction of additional investment flows, on the basis of which vectors of optimal development of the agricultural industry of Ukraine are formed. The publication lists the growth factors of the agricultural sector of Ukraine, in particular: enhancing the productivity and production in general; increasing the export volumes; orientation of the agricultural producers’ activities towards the niches of the industry; active development of all opportunities for the agricultural production, which is called «Ukrainian organic». The researched motives and policy of trade wars make it possible to offer a more effective apparatus to solve existing problems in the future.