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and practices in Russia

The European Union notified the WTO Secretariat on 9 July 2013 of a request for consultations with the Russian Federation on measures imposed by Russia relating to a charge, the so called “recycling fee”, imposed on motor vehicles.

According to the European Union, these measures adversely affect exports of motor vehicles from the European Union to Russia. The EU claims that Russia subjects imported vehicles to the payment of a “recycling fee”. In contrast, domestic vehicles are exempted from that payment under certain conditions. An exemption is also available to vehicles imported from certain countries, such as Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, there is no exemption for vehicles imported from the European Union. As a result, vehicles imported into Russia from the European Union are treated less favourably than domestic vehicles, or vehicles imported from Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The EU also claims that the structure of the “recycling fee” also appears to afford protection to domestic production.

> Further information will be available within the next few days in document WT/DS462/1

This is the first dispute involving the Russian Federation since it acceded to the WTO on 22 August 2012.

What is a request for consultations?

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

wto.org, 9 July 2013