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Ukraine to stick to guns on WTO claim against Russia — trade representative

In October, Ukraine lodged a complaint against the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization, related to restrictions imposed on Ukraine’s railroad cars and switches

© KEYSTONE/Martial Trezzini

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Ukraine launches WTO consultations on complaint against Russia — ministry

NAIROBI, December 16. /TASS/. Ukraine intends to stick to guns on the WTO claim to Russia regarding railroad cars and switches unless Russia lifts trade barriers, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade and trade representative Natalya Mikolskaya said on Wednesday.

In October, Ukraine lodged a complaint against the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO), related to restrictions imposed on Ukraine’s railroad cars and switches. The first consultations on the complaint were held in December.

"We’ll be acting within the WTO procedures. All we can say is that if Russia does not remove trade barriers that we think are unreasonable we’ll be sticking to our guns within the WTO procedures," Mikolskaya said.

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As was reported earlier Ukraine’s claims concern allegedly groundless imposition of restrictions on supplies of railroad cars from Kryukov car-building plant, Dnepropetrovsk switch-making plant and other manufacturers. According to the data provided by the Ukrainian side, export of railroad cars and switches to the Russian Federation dropped from $1.7 bln in 2013 to $51 mln in 7 months of 2015.

Also, Mikolskaya confirmed Ukraine’s intention to apply to the WTO with another complaint against Russia regarding imposed restrictions on agricultural goods made in the country, adding that the documents are being prepared and evidence is being gathered now.

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