WTO rules against Russia in favor of the EU
The import dues imposed by the Russian Federation on some agricultural and industrial goods contradict the WTO rules
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against the Russian Federation (RF) in favor of the European Union as indicated in the published decision of the WTO, Deutsche Welle reports.
This was the first such decision since Russia’s admission to the WTO.
WTO arbitrators ascertained that the Russian import dues on some agricultural and industrial goods were contrary to the rules of the organization. "In accordance with the dispute settlement procedure launched by the EU in October 2014, the WTO board fully agrees that the Russian duties on paper, refrigerators and palm oil were incompatible with its obligations to the WTO," the statement reads.
The group of WTO arbitrators decided that 11 out of 12 Russian resolutions disputed by the EU were incompatible with Moscow's commitment not to raise tariffs above those set out in its obligations as a WTO member.
Five of these solutions have already been changed since the beginning of the dispute resolution process. The controversial dues were mostly introduced during the increase in tensions between the West and Russia over the role of the latter in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine called on the Russian Federation to cancel the transit restrictions and adhere to the WTO agreement.