The EU has complained about Russia to the WTO. The United States also had complaints. Why this time?
Russia insists that the levels of the EU measures are fully consistent with the country’s obligations under the WTO. She provided her case for a bilateral advisory service held in the fall of 2021. And while the EU said they were helpful and helped clarify some points, the problem remains. So the proceedings will continue.
The MED stressed that “there will be rules to protect our purchases within the framework of the relevant procedural procedures.”
Regarding the US claims to the Ministry of Economic Development, they explained that their American colleagues regularly voice them during contacts in Geneva at the WTO site. “Every time we give reasoned answers to them, explaining the groundlessness of the claims. For our part, we ask counter questions regarding the restrictions on the work of Russian exporters in the American market.
The dispute in the WTO with the EU is written by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. According to her, thanks to the lawsuit, the public learned how “the European Union appreciated the stupidity and lack of independence of the political elites.” “It’s stupid, because import substitution was a response to the EU sanctions against Russia. Brussels has long said that our country was“ severely punished ”.
Maria Zakharova also called on the United States not to undermine global trade and return to a constructive and equal dialogue within the WTO.
The Kremlin, in turn, denied the accusations from the United States.
Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko called the EU’s claim against Russia “the apotheosis of groundlessness” and a cynical policy.
And Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “it is possible not to discuss this at all. It is simply dishonorable.”
Russian corporations also found something to say. So, in Rostec they called Western sanctions a violation of WTO rules, and not Russian import substitution. “The real violation of the WTO is Western sanctions.