WTO to Establish Panel On Ukraine Anti-Dumping Measures

The World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a panel to examine Ukraine’s anti-dumping measures on ammonium nitrate imports from Russia.

GENEVA (Sputnik) – The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed to establish a panel to examine Ukraine’s anti-dumping measures on ammonium nitrate imports from Russia, a WTO source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

"The Dispute Settlement Body agreed today to establish a panel requested by the Russian Federation over anti-dumping measures applied by Ukraine to ammonium nitrate imported from Russia," the source said.

Russia first requested to consult the government of Ukraine on May 7, 2015, as part the WTO rules and procedures governing dispute settlements.

At issue is Ukraine increasing ammonium nitrate import taxes threefold, from 11.91 percent to 36.03 percent in July 2014, and extending the anti-dumping measure by 5 years. Kiev cited gas price discrepancies between domestic chemical plants and Russian manufacturers as reason for its decision.

Moscow contends that Kiev violated its obligations toward Russia within the framework of the WTO in extending import taxes by 5 years.

The latest WTO panel is the next step of settling disputes after the sides fail to resolve difference at consultation levels. The last formal consultations took place in June 2015 did not mutually acceptable results.

Ammonium nitrate is mainly used for fertilizers, as well as for explosive materials.