EU/Russia Agreement: introduction or increase by the Russian Federation of export duties on raw materials

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Inese VAIDERE (EPP, LV) in which it recommends the European Parliament to consent to the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the introduction or increase of export duties on raw materials.

Members note the urgency and importance of a legally binding agreement on raw materials is strongly supported by the recent ban on import of livestock from all the EU Member States imposed by Russia, following the spread of Schmallenberg and Bluetongue viruses, despite the fact that such a ban is in a clear breach of the rules of the World Trade Organization.

The European Commission has already demanded immediate lifting of the restrictions by Russia, but finds itself rather limited in its capacity to protect the EU's consumers' and producers' interests and respect for the WTO regulations. This ban signals that not much has changed in Russia's approach, even regardless its accession to the WTO.

Without a strong, legally binding bilateral agreement on raw materials, the EU will have no insurance against similar protectionist measures in the future.

This agreement will have a positive impact if it is concluded prior to the ratification of the WTO accession agreement by the Russian Federation.