Global Trade Alert

On 15 April 2013, the Ukrainian President, Mr. Viktor Yanukovych, signed Decree No 215/2013 on the creation of a State Commission for cooperation with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The significance and trade policy implications of this legal step are to be analysed in relation with the current macroeconomic situation in Ukraine. As a response to the county's rising trade balance, the Ukrainian government expressed its intentions to reopen negotiations on the country's WTO membership terms (see related GTA measure Nr. 3733 below). The government's strategy was to seek WTO approval to raise tariffs on more than 350 goods to a maximum level (by an average of 100-150%). This request was heavily criticised by the the United States and the European Union.
The creation of a State Commission for cooperation with the World Trade Organization (WTO) may be regarded as a preparatory step of the Ukrainian government to seek increases in import tariffs on manufactured goods.