The Russian government will decide on raising import duties on goods from Ukraine within 10 days if the Ukrainian government takes action on the implementation of the economic portion of the EU association agreement, the Russian Council of Ministers said in a resolution on Monday.
“A decision on implementing duties will be made by the government of the Russian Federation within 10 days if the government of Ukraine takes action on the practical application of the economic portion of the association agreement or its implementation,” the resolution says.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the International Investment Forum in Sochi on Friday that he had signed an order to implement the most favorable regime for Ukraine, but only if the enactment of the association agreement was delayed.
“I would like to inform you that I have signed a decree today introducing import duties on Ukrainian goods, that it, the regular most favored nation treatment is introduced. We are talking about food, consumer and processing industry products, and other goods,” Medvedev said at a plenary session of the forum.
“However, these duties will be introduced if Ukraine begins applying the economic articles of the agreement [on association with the EU] before the stated date [January 1, 2016], that is, begins legal implementation or practical implementation of these provisions,” he said.
Medvedev added that Russia has reached an agreement with Ukraine and the European Commission that the trade and economic portion of the agreement would not be enforced before January 1, 2016.
