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The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has started preparations for introducing retaliatory measures in response to Russia's trade embargo planned from January 1, 2016, Ukraine Trade Representative and Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Nataliya Mykolska told reporters after a meeting of the Export Council on Thursday.
"We will respond adequately to economic measures … applied by the Russian Federation. The inter-ministerial work is under way," she said.
Mykolska also noted that Ukraine would also continue work regarding the claims lodged with the World Trade Organization in respect of the Russian-imposed trade restrictions.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Ukrainian government and the European Commission do not intend to postpone the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, which was ratified by all EU member states.
Read alsoEuropean Commissioner for Trade: We decided that DCFTA would come into force, and Russia will have to accept thatUkraine and the European Union signed the political provisions of the Association Agreement on March 21, 2014, while the economic provisions concerning the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the EU were signed in late June 2014, following the presidential election in Ukraine.
DCFTA was originally expected to start working in October 2014. However, after consultations held by the European Commission, Ukraine and Russia in September 2014, the sides agreed to postpone the introduction of the trade-related provisions until December 31, 2015. At the same time the EU imposed unilateral preferences on Ukrainian exports, while the European goods continue to be subject to duties in Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly stated that, if DCFTA enters into force, Moscow will be forced to impose an embargo on imports of Ukrainian products. Ukraine threatens retaliatory measures.