BRUSSELS, October 20 (RIA Novosti) – The World Trade Organization (WTO) has decided to create an arbitration panel to probe into the dispute between the European Union and Russia over the country's practice of imposing anti-dumping duties on light commercial vehicles (LCVs) from Germany and Italy, a source familiar with the issue told RIA Novosti Monday.
"The EU said that Russia had not signalled any intention to remove the measures and the EU continues to believe that the anti-dumping duties imposed are inconsistent with the WTO Anti-dumping Agreement," the source said.
"Russia said that there was only one round of consultations on this matter and Russia was "deeply disappointed" that there had been no efforts from the EU to find a mutually agreed solution in the course of the consultations," the source noted, adding that "Russia is convinced that the measures at issue are in full conformity with the WTO Agreements".
Exports of EU-produced vehicles weighing between 2.8 and 3.5 tons to Russia amounted to over 100 million euros ($137 million) in 2012, but have been decreasing since Moscow imposed a so-called "recycling fee" in September 2012 on cars, trucks, buses and other motor vehicles just days after joining the WTO.
The European Commission first asked the WTO for consultations with Russia over the anti-dumping fees in July 2013. In October 2013, the European Union requested the creation of a panel, as talks had been unsuccessful.
Russia rejected the European Union's request to establish a panel, stating that the payment scheme was being modified.
On May 21, the European Union again requested consultations, claiming that duties of 23-29.6 percent imposed by Russia on European LCVs were "significantly hampering access to the Russian market".
According to WHO rules, the complaining party may request the establishment of an arbitration panel if consultations fail. The responding country has the right to block the creation of a panel only once.
