KYIV. March 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine has proposed that a ban on exports of round timber that causes alarm with the EU is revoked, and the mechanisms for protecting the domestic market more acceptable in the World Trade Organization (WTO) are used, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Maksym Nefyodov has said.
“Ukrainian lawmakers with their safeguard measures towards timber prompted the large problem in relations between Ukraine and the EU. The ban on exporting round timber imposed for 10 years caused alarm with the EU and the WTO. We propose a bill that allows settling the issue: on one hand it revokes the ban and on the other hand – thanks to the introduction of the mechanism for protecting the domestic market more acceptable in the WTO and we hope that MPs will support it,” he said at a cabinet meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Nefyodov said that this concerns the creation of the timber registration system and sale of timber in two stages – first at auctions for Ukrainian producers and then at exports auctions.
“I ask cabinet members to support the bill, as the adoption of the bill directly depends on the next tranche of the macro-financial assistance from the EU,” he said.
