WTO first ruled against Russia – RBC

The logo of the World trade organization headquarters in Geneva

Photo: Reuters / Pixstream

WTO arbitrators backed the EU in a dispute with Russia over the duties on imports of European refrigerators, palm oil and paper products

The panel of arbitrators with the World trade organization (WTO) on Friday decided in favor of the European Union in a dispute with Russia over fees for paper, palm oil and refrigerators, it follows from the information on the website of the organization. The arbitrators found that Russia has applied excessive duties on imports of these products from the EU, departing thereby from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of 1994.

The EU challenged a total of 12 Russian measures relating to the use of import tariffs on European goods. Arbitrators Panel acknowledged that 11 of these measures – the application of customs duties in accordance with the Common Customs Tariff of the Eurasian Economic Union to the European paper products, products from palm oil and refrigerators – violate commitments Russia undertook when joining the WTO. Another, the twelfth, the EU claim was more abstract and belonged to the “systematic variation of duty” on the part of Russia, but the WTO panel considered this claim unfounded, according to the organization’s website.

The European Union in October 2014 requested consultations with Russia on the issue of import duties on paper products, refrigerators and palm oil, and in February 2015, asked to convene a panel of arbitrators to settle the dispute. As explained to the European Commission, when joining the WTO, Russia has committed itself to maintain its import duties below the limits specified in the documents of accession. However, Russia, according to the EU continued to impose a number of goods higher tariffs than the agreed

meted out Friday decision, which may still be appealed, -. The first solution in the WTO dispute settlement mechanism regarding Russia, since its entry into the organization in 2012. In consideration of the WTO are still some disputes between the EU and Russia.