Russia has sent in the dispute settlement body of the world trade organization, request for consultations in respect of Ukraine introduced restrictions against Russia, said the head of Ministry of economic development of Russia Maxim Oreshkin.
“The Russian mission to the WTO in Geneva, sent to the dispute settlement body of the WTO and the government of Ukraine’s request for consultations due to the continuous input starting from 2014, restrictions, prohibitions, special requirements and procedures with respect to Russian goods, services and persons on the Ukrainian market, as well as in respect of transit through Ukraine”, – said the Minister after a meeting with head of WTO, Robert Azevedo, held in the framework of the Ministerial meeting of trade Ministers of the APEC countries.
The Minister added that he in particular, said the head of the WTO at the meeting.
“We are talking in particular about the bans on imports of Russian meat and dairy products, fish, wine-vodka products, equipment for Railways, fertilizers, and many other products. Special procedures are applicable to the import of Russian books and other printed materials. A special tax regime applies when the importation of second-hand Russian car. On the territory of Ukraine is prohibited or discriminatory manner is limited to the activities of hundreds of Russian companies – producers and suppliers of goods and services. Among them – the builders, banks, suppliers of various services, including the Internet, software vendors, airlines, and many others. Special ecological, sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary control imposed on Russian food, light industry products, cosmetics, household chemicals and other Russian goods,” the Minister enumerated a list of restrictions against the Russian Federation.
The request, according to the Minister, covers a total of hundreds of elements of Ukrainian normative acts and applies to violations of a number of underlying WTO agreements.
In accordance with the procedures of the WTO, requesting consultations is the first step in filing a claim. Within two months, according to the WTO rules, should be consulted with the government of Ukraine with the aim of finding a mutually acceptable solution to the current situation.
We will remind, this week Ukraine extended and expanded sanctions against Russian and foreign citizens, firms and companies. In the updated version of the sanctions list are 1228 people and 648 legal entities.
In addition, were banned and the Russian social network “Vkontakte” and “Classmates”, as well as services Yandex, and Mail.ru.
