Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai agreed to hold a Trade and Investment Council.
“We talked about the need to strengthen dialogue on climate change, non-tariff rules for industrial and food products both in the context of strengthening the World Trade Organization (WTO) and on the bilateral track. We agreed to hold a Council on Trade and Investment and talk,” Kachka wrote on Facebook on Wednesday following a discussion with Tai on key trade issues held on May 11.
During the conversation, Tai expressed support for the idea of free production of vaccines (waiver), he said.
“We expressed our support. Ukraine is ready to act as a compressor of the waiver initiative and to convince the EU that it is necessary,” Kachka said.
With regard to duties on metallurgical products, the United States, according to Kachka, is ready to seek an individual approach to metal trading in order to overcome the problem of overcapacity.
“We explained that the duties and the EU measures applied later ended in the opposite direction in terms of overcapacity [excess capacity]. In general, Ukraine is more likely a partner of the West in transforming metallurgy,” Ukrainian trade representative added.
Ukraine in January-April of this year increased exports of ferroalloys in kind by 24.1% compared to the same period last year, to 205,506 tonnes.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service, in monetary terms, exports of ferroalloys decreased 13.1%, to $246.614 million.
The main export of ferroalloys was to Turkey (17.42% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (13.08%) and Italy (12.69%).
In addition, in January-April 2021, Ukraine imported 18,547 tonnes of these products, which is 28% more compared to January-April 2020. In monetary terms, imports grew by 17.2%, to $43.224 million.
Imports were mainly from Brazil (17.9%), Kazakhstan (16.92%), and the Czech Republic (11.69%).
PrivatBank (Kyiv) prior to its nationalization organized the business of Stakhanov and Zaporizhia ferroalloys plants. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is under control of the EastOne Group, established in autumn 2007 as a result of the restructuring of the Interpipe group, as well as the Privat Group.
As part of the project of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian-language and English-language audio guides were launched at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv, the presidential press service said.
“I am glad that the direction of the cultural diplomacy project is now developing in Ukraine. The launch of audio guides in Ukrainian and English will help expand the audience of visitors to the Mariiynsky Palace,” the presidential press service quoted Zelenska as saying.
The launch of the audio guides was attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien, British Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Melinda Simmons and others.
Reportedly, the Mariyinsky Palace has been under reconstruction for 12 years. After the decree of the President of Ukraine was signed, it again opened its doors to visitors from September 2020.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that soon a university, which prepares the specialists in combating and countering cyber threats, will be opened in the country.
“We will open a new powerful university, the presentation is almost ready. A university that will have such professions related to the cybersecurity of the country, of the people. Cybersecurity is one of the main faculties of this university […] We will select the best children, we will give very high scholarships […] modern laboratories, cyber centers, biochemical centers will be built there […]”, Zelensky told reporters after speaking at the Ukraine 30 All-Ukrainian Forum.
The President also said that the university will also have a powerful selection of teachers, primarily Ukrainians, but foreign specialists will also be attracted, who will be paid high salarie.
Ukraine in January-April-2021 increased imports of nickel and products from it by 22.4% compared to the same period in 2020, to $32.750 million.
In addition, Ukraine in January-April-2021 increased imports of nickel and products from it by 22.4% compared to the same period in 2020, to $32.750 million (in April – $9.428 million), aluminum and products from it – by 10% , to $129.966 million ($34.997 million).
At the same time, it increased the import of lead and products from it by 3.1 times, to $4.603 million ($1.040 million), increased the import of tin and products from it by 43.5%, to $1.145 million ($402,000), and also increased zinc and zinc products by 90.7%, to $28.139 million ($9.561 million).
Ukrainian enterprises in January-April this year increased the import of copper and copper products by 68% compared to the same period last year, to $50.196 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, the export of copper and copper products in the first four months of the year tripled, to $68.051 million.
In April, copper and copper products were imported for $14.532 million, exported – for $21.201 million.
