WTO panel confirms Russian import duty violations

A WTO panel last week agreed with the EU’s claim, filed at the end of 2014, that Russia has levied excessive import duties on certain goods. The panel confirmed that Russian import duties on certain paper and paper board products, palm oil and refrigerators exceeded WTO “bound” rates. The panel rejected the EU’s claim of systematic application of higher duties targeting numerous products due to insufficient evidence. The panel’s ruling becomes binding if neither party files an appeal within 60 days. At that point, Russia would have to bring its import duties into compliance with WTO rules as soon as possible. Failure to comply with the ruling could lead to compensation or retaliation measures. Russia has, however, brought its customs practices into compliance for some of the products concerned already in the course of the panel proceedings.       

Other EU complaints about Russia still pending with the WTO include automobile recycling fees and bans on imported pork. The EU also recently introduced anti-dumping duties on some Russian and Chinese steel products.