WTO Panel Supports EU in Paper, Palm Oil Tariff Dispute With Russia

A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel ruled on Friday in favor of the European Union in its dispute with Russia over its alleged excess tariffs on imported paper, paperboard, palm oil and refrigerators.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The panel found six more instances of Russian import tariffs to be in violation of WTO rules at the time of the panel's formation.

"The first to fifth measures at issue, which consist of ad valorem duty rates applied in excess of ad valorem bound rates, are inconsistent with Article II:1(b), first sentence, because they require the application of ordinary customs duties in excess of those set forth in Russia's Schedule," the panel said in a statement.

The panel found just one EU complaint to lack sufficient evidence for Russia's breach of WTO tariff rules.