January 17 2008, 10:53

Ukraine negotiated the final obstacle to the entrance to WTO

Ukraine and EU reached the compromise in the issue of export tariff rates and negotiated the final obstacle on the way to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Piter Mendelson, EU Trade Commissar, provided this information in his phone interview to UNIAN.

"I am pleased to say that we made the decision on the basis of compromise which doesn't fully satisfy either me or Ukrainian party. I. e. we are equal to achieve this compromise. In any case, we have something to celebrate - we can celebrate that the final obstacle on the way of Ukraine's entrance to WTO has been removed. I am very glad that Ukraine now can move forward", EU Commissar said.

In particular, during the negotiations Ukraine agreed to limit the number of the existing export tariff rates, and not to increase the rates in future, Mr. Mendelson said. He did not share other details; he just pointed out that yesterday (January 16th) was an important day for Ukraine and EU.

"So, today is a historical day, a very important breakthrough, and I want to congratulate Ukrainian participants of the negotiations with the achieved result, and all of us - with compromise", Mr. Mendelson said.

We'd like to remind that the issue of export tariff rates was the final question for Ukraine to solve during the negotiations with EU regarding the entrance to WTO. EU required canceling all export tariff rates; in its turn, Ukraine made the proposal to set a moratorium on new tariff rates and not to increase the existing export tariff rates.