EU files case against Russia on vehicles import duties

Geneva, May 22 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has requested to hold consultations with Russia in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the latter's anti-dumping duties imposed on light commercial vehicles (LCVs) from Germany and Italy, the world trade watchdog said.

EU alleged that anti-dumping duties of 23 percent to 29.6 percent imposed on European LCVs were significantly hampering access to the Russian market, and the trade restrictions were incompatible with WTO law, both on procedural and on substantive grounds, Xinhua reported.

Request for consultations is the first step in a dispute at the Dispute Settlement System of the WTO. Response to the request has to be given within 10 days and the member requested shall enter into consultations within a maximum of 30 days after the date of the receipt of the request.

Under the EU's claims, the measures taken by Russia were inconsistent with Russia's obligations under various articles of the GATT 1994 and the Anti-Dumping Agreement, said WTO.

The Eurasian Economic Commission imposed anti-dumping duties May 14 last year on imports of light commercial vehicles from Germany, Italy and Turkey, and the decision covered the territory of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

This is the fourth case filed against Russia since it acceded to the WTO Aug 22, 2012.

The first two cases, related to the recycling fee on motor vehicles, were filed respectively by the EU and Japan in July 2013, and the third was filed in April 2014 by the EU, concerning Russia's measures on the imports of EU live pigs and their genetic materials and products.