Kyiv Considers Taking Russia To WTO Over Customs Spat

Russian Vladimir Putin (left) has discussed imports by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. (file photo)

Kyiv is considering complaining to the World Trade Organization about Russia's more intensive customs inspections.

Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Minister Ihor Prasolov said on August 16 that a complaint is one option Kyiv is considering to end the dispute with Moscow.

On the same day. Russia’s Federal Customs Service chief defended Moscow’s actions as necessary to solve problems with suspected rigged declarations.

Andrei Belyaninov said rigged declarations misrepresent cargoes, their value, and country of origin.

The two sides are due to meet in Moscow on August 19 to discuss their differences.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych spoke about the problem by phone on August 16, but released no details of their conversation.

Ukraine has banned the import of wheat from Russia's major wheat-producing regions since Ukrainian goods began backing up August 15 along the Russian-Ukrainian border.


Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and RIA-Novosti