The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization has sent WTO Member States a Communication from Ukraine of 6 January 2016 with regard to trade restrictions from the Russian Federation (Eng).

Ukraine brings WTO Members' attention to the continued aggression of the Russian Federation. In particular, it states that the politically motivated and illegal trade measures have been adopted by the Russian Federation following Ukraine's decision to start the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union on 1 January 2016. Ukraine emphasises that such measures as an embargo on imports of certain agricultural products, raw materials and food originating from Ukraine, a halt to the preferential trade regime contemplated under the CIS Free Trade Agreement, and limitations on transit shipments of Ukrainian goods  to the Republic of Kazakhstan via the territory of the RF, are inconsistent with the basic principles upon which the WTO is founded as well as commitments undertaken by the Russian Federation upon accession to the WTO.

The Communication points out that due to the Russian Federation's measures, Ukraine is under the necessity to apply adequate countermeasures until the Russian Federation's measures are withdrawn.

Commenting on the Ukraine’s statement to WTO Members, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Aivaras Abromavičius noted that with the support of our trading partners, the Government would appeal to the WTO against the Russian Federation’s actions in order to protect national economic interests and security of Ukraine and Ukrainian business. Moreover, Ukraine plans to introduce alternative transit routes and enter new sales markets.