On December 18, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended the effect of two resolutions shaped by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine dated December 30, 2015, that provide for restrictions on imports of products from Russia. The resolutions envisage a total ban on imports of a number of goods from the Russian Federation, as well as the extension of customs duties on certain goods from Russia that were imported duty-free before 2015. The duration of the decisions was prolonged until December 31, 2019, with the possibility of their extension in the future.

The measures envisaged by the Government were designed to counteract Russia's trade restrictions on imports and transit of Ukrainian products in order to ensure the protection of national interests and Ukrainian business.

So, for some Russian goods, instead of the zero duty rate, which was in force in accordance with the agreement on the establishment of a free trade regime between the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States from January 2, 2016, the so-called the most-favoured-nation treatment regime of the WTO is used which provides for the application of higher rates of import duty.

The Government also extended the effect of the resolution that introduced a ban on imports of goods from Russia, in particular, food (dairy products, tea, coffee, beer, and alcoholic drinks), cosmetic products for personal hygiene (shampoos, shower gels, soap), products of the chemical industry for agriculture (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides), potassium chloride, as well as railway equipment (locomotives, wagons and track equipment), etc.