EU wants WTO to hear state procurement dispute with Russia

GENEVA, Nov 22 (PRIME) -- The E.U. has filed a request to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to form an arbiter panel that would consider its dispute with Russia over Moscow’s restriction of access for foreign goods and services to state procurements, the organization said in a statement late on November 19.

The parties had consultations on November 13, but failed to settle the dispute, the WTO said.

The European Commission was dissatisfied with the measures of the Russian government that restrict or limit possibilities for the E.U. companies to sell goods and services to Russian state companies under the state procurement mechanism.

The European Commission launched the WTO dispute in late July, and Russia’s Economic Development Ministry said then it was ready to assure the E.U. that the rules of state procurement in the country do not contradict the WTO norms.

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