Legal news
and practices in Russia

WTO: 2013 NEWS ITEMS

22 October 2013

DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

Following the Russian Federation’s objection, the Dispute Settlement Body on 22 October 2013 deferred the establishment of a panel to examine the European Union’s complaint over Russia’s recycling fee on motor vehicles.

DS462: Russian Federation — Recycling Fee on Motor Vehicles

Following the Russian Federation’s objection, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) deferred the establishment of a panel to examine the European Union’s complaint in this dispute. The EU said that it was concerned about Russia’s recycling fee on motor vehicles, which had a negative economic impact and raised important systemic concerns; hence its request for the establishment of a panel. The fee was imposed on imported vehicles and exempted vehicles produced in Russia and those imported from Kazakhstan and Belarus. The EU noted the Duma’s recent adoption of a law amending the measures but had yet to receive any clarification regarding the implementing rules.

Russia said that it regretted the EU’s request for the establishment of a panel and added that it hadresponded to the EU’s questions and had provided additional information. Russia noted that the EU request covered measures in respect of which Russia had launched a process of modification. The respective legislation was adopted by the Duma in the first reading on 8 October 2013 and finally on 16 October. The legislation, which had been signed by the Russian President, eliminated sections of the existing utilisation fee regime which the EU had referred to in its request for consultations. Russia believed that the matter could be resolved through consultations and was thus not in a position to agree to the establishment of a panel.

wto.org 23 October 2013