WTO convokes panel over EU pork row despite Russia’s refusal

MOSCOW, Nov 21 (PRIME) -- The World Trade Organization (WTO) has convoked an arbitration panel over a pork dispute between Russia and the E.U. despite Russia’s blocking, the Economic Development Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

“As reported earlier, Russia blocked the establishment of an arbitration panel in the framework of a dispute “Russia: measures concerning imports of live pigs, pork and other pork products” at the first meeting of the authority for conflict resolution. Nevertheless, under the WTO rules, in case of a repeated application, it is established automatically,” the ministry said.

On January 30, 2014, the Russian veterinary authority prohibited imports of European pork products until receipt of safety warrants from the European Commission after an outbreak of African swine fever in Lithuania. The E.U. called the prohibition a disproportional measure and sent a petition to convoke an expert group over the disagreement to the WTO.

The prohibition on imports was removed in December 2017 on WTO request but supplies are still impossible due to a food imports ban introduced in retaliation for anti-Russian sanctions. The E.U. is asking the WTO for the right to suspend 1.39 billion euro trade-offs to Russia per year, Russia called the measure disproportionate.

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