Ukraine has said it is ready to hold consultations initiated by Russia as part of the trade dispute within the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine said on May 29.
“On May 29 Ukraine accepted the request, stating its readiness to carry out these consultations, acting in accordance with the norms, principles and commitments it took upon its accession to the WTO,” the release notes.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade recalls that on May 19 Ukraine received a formal demand from Russia for holding consultations within the framework of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism to resolve Russia’s claim of “the constant practice of trade restrictions.”
“The Russian Federation applies the practice of permanent restrictions on the legitimate rights and interests of Ukraine, in particular continues to conduct a targeted trade aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s demand for consultations within the WTO is another step in economic, commercial and legal pressure on Ukraine,” the Ukrainian ministry said.
The Ukrainian Economy Ministry said that together with other interested government agencies they are carefully studying and analyzing Russia’s demand, as well as the steps against which Russia appeals, in order to protect Ukraine’s rights and interests.
The Ministry recalls that over the past two years, Ukraine appealed to the WTO against the illegality of imposing restrictions by Russia on the import of railway rolling stock and other railway equipment produced in Ukraine, as well as restrictions on the transit from the territory of Ukraine through the territory of Russia to third countries.
As reported, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin announced on May 20 that Russia had sent a request to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body to hold consultations as regards the restrictions imposed by Ukraine on Russian goods, services, and persons at the Ukrainian market since 2014, as well as on transit through Ukraine.
According to the minister, the restrictions in question include bans on import from Russia of meat and dairy products, wine, railroad equipment, fertilizers and many other goods. The special procedures are used for import of Russian books and other printed materials. Special tax treatment is imposed on import of second-hand cars from Russia. Activities of hundreds of Russian companies are banned or restricted in a discriminatory manner in Ukraine he said.
In accordance with the WTO procedures, a request for consultations is the first stage of filing a lawsuit. The WTO regulations stipulate that consultations with the Ukrainian government for the purpose of seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the existing situation shall be held in two months.
“If consultations don’t yield the desired results, we have the right to initiate the second stage of a dispute, the referral of a case to the panel for consideration,” Oreshkin said.
