WTO member-states reluctantly agree to negotiate with Ukraine

The U.S., European Union, China and 12 other World Trade Organization member-states have agreed to conduct consultations with the Ukrainian government on its request to review 371 tariff positions, the Kommersant-Ukrayina newspaper reported on Dec. 13. Ukrainian officials rejected calls by the U.S. to remove their request for reviews. Now the Ukrainian side will submit more detailed statements, which will include desired tariff levels, arguments for which they should be changed and proposed compensation measures. No single WTO member-state supports Ukraine’s request, said U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke, the newspaper reported, also noting that Ukrainian diplomats claimed the support of 110 member-states.