To join Customs Union, Ukraine will have to negotiate with 152 WTO countries
2011-05-18 15:04:05
In the case of Ukraine's accession to the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, where there are high customs tariffs, Ukraine will have first to negotiate their change with 152 member countries of the World Trade Organization, WTO representative Keith Rockwell explained the position of the organization to Radio Liberty.
The World Trade Organization is a kind of contract; upon entry into the WTO governments sign contracts with their trading partners; now the WTO has 153 members, therefore, Ukraine has 152 trading partners; entering the WTO, Ukraine agreed with these 152 countries that its marginal rate for agricultural products will be 11% and industrial products 5%, Rockwell reminded.
If Ukraine now wants to increase its tariffs on a permanent basis, it will need to negotiate this with all of its partners in the WTO, the representative of the organization explained.