Ukraine could apply to revise tariff commitments of WTO membership

Anatoliy Kinakh, head of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, appealed to Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to file a request with the World Trade Organization to review Ukraine’s membership commitments to revise its tariffs before the end of the year, when its right to do so expires, daily Kommersant reported this morning. Kinakh said that the government could seek to initiate a review of commitments in the automotive, aviation, light industry and food product spheres. Ukraine became the WTO’s 152nd member on May 16, 2008. According to Kommersant, if Ukraine does not file a claim by yearend, it would forfeit its right for another three years. Since 1995, 34 reviews have been filed – only 8 were completed and 15 are still in the negotiation phase.