Russian specialists to hold consultations in Switzerland over trade procedures within WTO

MOSCOW, July 15 (Itar-Tass) - Specialists of the Economic Development Ministry and the Federal Tariff Service (FST) will leave for Switzerland on Tuesday, July 16, to hold consultations on trade procedures within the World Trade Organization (WTO), the ministry’s press service told Itar-Tass.

The press service said the EU claims over car recycling fee were not expected to be in the focus of the consultations. “On July 16 Russian specialists will leave for Switzerland for consultations within the WTO trade procedures, with the exception of car recycling fee,” the press service said.

The EU intends to file a complaint against Russia’s recycling fee. Russian permanent representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhvo said as a whole Russia agreed with the EU requirements to balance recycling tax for domestic producers and importers.

At the same time, Chizhov said the time was needed to solve the problem. He expressed confidence that there “is a real possibility to settle the problem by talks”. “There is such chance and I assure you that Russia will exert maximum effort to reach a final settlement agreement on the EU complaint to the WTO through consultations by avoiding any sanctions,” he said.

“In fact this topic is long being discussed. The EU lodged claims the charges were different for producers working in Russia, including for European, Japanese and other companies, and for importers whose charges were higher. The EU believes that this runs counter the WTO norms,” the Russian permanent representative explained.

He noted, “Europe arouses concern over the difference between these tariffs.”

“In principle Russia agreed that it was necessary to make corrections. However, the mechanism and its concrete size are reflected in Russian legislation. In order to make corrections Russian law should be made changes, which should be prepared, approved by the Russian government and submitted to the State Duma. Unfortunately, the State Duma failed to debate them till the summer recess,” he noted.

The parliamentary recess in Russia will last till the end of September and “the interference of the executive authorities in the legislative work would run counter the Russian Constitution”, the diplomat said.

“The WTO norms give 60 days to reach agreement by consultations and another 10 days to start talks. We hope that we’ll succeed,” Chizhov said.