WTO adopted a second decision this week against Russia – RBC

Photo: Alexander Mudrats / TASS

WTO It takes the second week a decision against Russia in trade disputes with the European Union. The arbitrators acknowledged the illegal ban on Russian imports of live pigs and pork from Europe

The World Trade Organization (WTO), the EU supported the second trade dispute with Russia over the week. The panel of arbitrators at the WTO, to understand the legitimacy of Russia’s ban in 2014 on imports of European pork, it decided that the ban is contrary to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures WTO. The decision of the arbitrators published on Friday, August 19.

In January 2014, Rosselkhoznadzor banned the import of live pigs and pig products from all EU countries, referring to the outbreak of African swine fever in Lithuania and Poland. In April 2014, the EU has requested consultations with Russia on the issue of lifting the ban, and in June of the same year asked the WTO to convene a panel of arbitrators to resolve the dispute. As a result, the arbitrators backed the EU on most points of the complaint. In particular, they concluded that the ban on pork shipments from all EU Member States is contrary to international standards of the World Organization for Animal Health, and therefore does not meet the obligation of Russia “to base their sanitary or phytosanitary measures on international standards”, as prescribed in packing Agreement SPS WTO action

The arbitrators have also recognized the Russian illegal certain prohibitions on the supply of live pigs and pork from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia

The verdict of the arbitration panel -.. a “serious signal Russia and all members of the WTO with regard to their obligations to comply with international standards, “the European Commission said in a press release after the decision was announced. She notes that the supply of European pork in Russia are banned due to the Russian embargo imposed in August 2014 in response to Western sanctions

African swine fever -. A contagious disease of pigs fatal for these animals, but harmless to humans. Vaccines against this virus does not exist. The European Commission protested against the fact that Russia has extended the ban on imports of pork to the EU countries in which there were no outbreaks of African swine fever. WTO arbitrators agreed that sanitary measures imposed by Russia were not based on an adequate assessment of the risks to life and health of people or animals. “Today’s WTO ruling confirms that the measures taken by Russia against the EU, have little to do with real health risks or health risks,” – said the European Commission

Russia has 60 days in which to appeal against the WTO ruling. . The arbitrators rejected the claims of the European Union, including accusations of ignoring the economic factors and the lack of transparency measures, noted in a press release the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, acknowledging that “in some cases, the panel has seen some discrepancies between the Russian measures and international standards.” “The feasibility of treatment in the WTO Appellate Body is very high. The corresponding decision will be made within the WTO procedure time – in the coming weeks “, – said the Ministry

A week earlier, the WTO adopted the first judgment against Russia in several trade disputes with the EU.. Arbitrators have recognized that Russia overstated duties on imports of European refrigerators, palm oil and paper, thus violating the rules of the WTO. In consideration of the WTO are still some disputes between the EU and Russia, including the recycling of the RF collection cars and anti-dumping duties on imports of light commercial vehicles (LCV) from the EU.

Before the Russian embargo in 2013, pork exports from the EU to Russia amounted to € 1,4 Bln. European Association of agricultural cooperatives Copa-Cogeca complained in May 2016 that manufacturers are faced with the lowest prices for pork in 11 years, and called on the Commission to intensify its efforts on the return of European meat and vegetables Russian market. In August 2014, the Russian government has introduced a grocery embargo, which swept the European and pork. In late June, President Vladimir Putin extended the embargo until the end of 2017.