Ukraine has filed a lawsuit to the world trade organization in connection with the restriction of the transit of Ukrainian goods through Russian territory to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. About it reports a press-service of the Ministry of economic development.
The Ministry reminded that last year began the process of dispute settlement in the WTO on restrictions of Russia on the transit to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The Russian side did not take measures for the abolition of undue restrictions on the transit of Ukrainian goods to third countries, so Ukraine to the WTO initiates the creation of a group of experts to examine the dispute on the merits.
“Since the use of restrictive measures that are appealed, the export of goods from Ukraine to the countries of Central/Eastern Asia in 2016 decreased by 38.3% compared to the year 2015. In General, the loss of export of goods to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are estimated at more than $ 400 million. We are deeply convinced that the trading aggression of the Russian Federation, including illegal actions to limit transit (and de facto almost complete ban) from Ukraine to third countries, must receive an objective assessment of WTO experts and, of course, should be abolished. This will contribute to elimination of violations of the rights and interests of Ukrainian producers and exporters from the Russian Federation and will allow our state to recover its transit potential”, – said Deputy Minister of economic development and trade – trade representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolskiy.
The Ministry noted that Ukraine’s position is supported by undisputed evidence provides support for key foreign partners, among which, first and foremost, the EU and the USA.
It is also noted that due to the lawsuit regarding the many prohibitions and restrictions on the import of Ukrainian goods to Russia.
As reported August 1, 2016, on the Ukrainian-Russian border were detained 143 rail carsbound for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, however, 106 of them were sent along the changed route.
We will remind, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin the decree from January 1, 2016 was established that the international transit road and rail transport of cargoes from Ukraine to Kazakhstan across Russian territory are carried out only from the territory of Belarus “, subject to the application to cargo spaces (compartments) of vehicles and railway rolling stock, premises, containers and other places where are or can be the goods, means of identification (seals), including operating on the basis of technology global navigation satellite system GLONASS, as well as the presence of drivers of vehicles engaged in road transport account coupons”.
Then on 1 July, Putin has supplemented his decree new regulations, extending its effect not only on Kazakhstan but also in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, introduced a temporary ban on road and rail transport of goods in respect of which in the Russian Federation are applied rates of import customs duties established by the common customs tariff of the EAEU different from zero, and of the goods included in the list of agricultural products, raw materials and food, approved by the government of the Russian Federation.
According to the document, the government of the Russian Federation in the case of the appeal to him of the governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have the right to allow road and rail traffic above goods subject to the order of these operations.
