Japan Disputes Ukraine's Safeguard Measures On Cars

06/11/2013 12:00 - 470 Views

Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat on October 30, 2013 that it has requested consultations with Ukraine over its safeguard measures on certain passenger cars.

In April 2013 Ukraine's Inter-Departmental Commission for International Trade started to levy a 6.46 percent duty on imports of cars with a cylinder capacity of 1,000-1,500cm3, and a 12.95 percent duty on imports of cars with a cylinder capacity of 1,500-2,200cm3.

Japan alleges that the measures contravene the Agreement on Safeguards and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. It says Ukraine failed to immediately notify the Committee on Safeguards and didn't give the WTO members enough opportunity for prior consultations. Japan also argues that the safeguard measures exceed the necessary level for preventing or remedying serious injury.

During the October 22, 2013 meeting of the WTO Committee on Safeguards, Japan said that Ukraine's safeguard measures could have a negative impact on Japanese car exports. It said it was considering resorting to taking steps under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding.

Source: Tax News