WTO rules against Russia on pork ban
The World Trade Organization has supported the EU in the another trade dispute with Russia, RBC reports.
The panel of arbitrators at the WTO ruled that Russia’s ban on importing European pork is contrary to the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
In early, 2014 Russia imposed a ban on imports of live pigs and pig products from all EU countries, referring to the outbreak of African swine fever in Lithuania and Poland.
The WTO concluded that the ban on pork shipments from all EU Member States is contrary to the international standards of the World Organization for Animal Health, and therefore contradicts the obligation of Russia "to base its sanitary or phytosanitary measures on international standards", as prescribed in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the organization.
Arbitrators also recognized Russia’s individual bans on the supply of live pigs and pork from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia.
In the European Commission's press release, the verdict of the arbitration panel on this issue is called "a serious signal for Russia, concerning obligations to comply with international standards."
Russia has 60 days to appeal the decision of the WTO. The press service of the Ministry of Economic Development has not yet announced if Russia will appeal.
Earlier last week, the WTO made first judgments 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 March it was reported that Ukraine will initiate a dispute with Russia in the framework of the WTO pertaining to the import of products and consultations on transit, as well as the right to export to the Russian Federation.