UPDATE: WTO sides with EU in duties dispute with Russia

(Adds comments by Russian ministry in last three paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Aug 12 (PRIME) -- The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) panel of arbiters has supported the E.U.’s position in a dispute with Russia over duties on paper, palm oil, and fridges, the WTO said on Friday.

“The WTO panel has on the whole supported the E.U. in a dispute over tariffs introduced by the Russian Federation on imports of certain agricultural and industrial products,” a source who took part in the talks told PRIME.

The sides have 60 days to appeal.

The E.U. submitted a claim to the WTO against Russia’s high duties on paper, palm oil and fridge imports in October 2014.

The WTO arbitral group has rejected the E.U.’s accusations against Russia’s systematic violations in setting duties on paper, palm oil and fridges, the Russian Economic Development Ministry said.

“Russia has never denied that due to technical reasons import duties on certain goods differed from those defined in its tariff obligations. That’s why already before the start of the dispute the E.U. Commission was offered a certain schedule of eliminating the violations, which has been almost implemented by the start of arbitral meetings,” the ministry said.

“Our proposals to stop or suspend the dispute were in fact rejected by the E.U. Commission. Arbiters had to consider a non-existing situation where all rates, except two, were brought into compliance with obligations. The remaining two – on paper and fridges – will be adjusted in the near future,” the ministry said.

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