Envoy berates anti-dumping taxes on Russian goods

Date: 05/06/03

MOSCOW'S outgoing envoy to Brussels has voiced frustration that the EU continues to levy anti-dumping duties on Russian goods one year after it recognized the country as a market economy.

In May last year, the EU became the first major trading power to confer such recognition on Russia. At the time, it was believed the main benefit would be that Russia's own market data would be examined by European Commission officials in suspected cases of 'dumping' cheap goods on the Union's market.

Theoretically, this means it should be easier for Russian firms to prove they are manufacturing their products at economically viable prices and not selling below cost.

But Ambassador Vasily Likachev, who returns to Moscow tomorrow (6 June), said: "I cannot understand why - after the recognition of market economy status - the European Union still has 13 anti-dumping proceedings against Russia."

Moscow has complained, for example, that it is being unfairly treated because the EU imposes a 6.5 duty on imports of fertilisers containing cadmium, which is considered a health and environmental risk, from Russia, whereas it allows north African fertiliser, allegedly containing higher levels of cadmium, into its member states duty-free.

Speaking to European Voice, Likachev indicated he was pleased with the outcome of the EU-Russia summit in St Petersburg last Saturday (31 May).

While several EU states are known to hold reservations about Russian President Vladimir Putin's request for visa-free travel to the EU, Likachev said the "most important thing is that there were no negative reactions to this idea" at the summit.

The outgoing Russian Ambassador to the EU has criticised the Union for continuing to levy anti-dumping duties on Russian goods a year after it recognised the country as a market economy.