Thirteen HS codes were included in the updated list of embargoed Russian goods / Photo from politolog.net
The Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has published an expanded list of Russian goods banned from being imported into the territory of Ukraine from January 20.
The embargo was additionally imposed on 13 HS codes, including such foods as green tea, fish, caviar, confectioneries, ready-to-cook food and sauces, from Russia in response to similar actions of the Russian side.
"The government has expanded the list of Russian food products that are subject to the ban. These are additional 70 tariff lines, including: onion, ketchup and sauces, fish, some confectionery products, such as cookies, crispbreads, etc. In addition, to prevent the supply of embargoed goods under other HS codes, there has also been introduced an embargo on goods, which were not imported to Ukraine last year," the ministry's press service reported referring to Ukraine Trade Representative Nataliya Mykolska.
The Ukrainian government has started the process of challenging Russia's trade restrictions on Ukraine at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
On January 10, Ukraine imposed an embargo on the import of 30 commodity headings from Russia in response to similar actions of the Russian side. The ban covers food products, vodka, tobacco and chemical products, as well as railway equipment. In addition, Ukraine imposed import duties on Russian imports at rates varying in the range of 1.5-19% with a transition period of three-five years.
Ukraine says the trade embargo has been a retaliatory measure in response to aggressive economic actions of the Russian authorities that have completely banned since early this year Ukrainian food imports, raised import duties on other product groups supplied from Ukraine, as well as introduced a total ban on transit shipments of Ukrainian goods to the Central Asian countries through the Russian territory.
Ukraine claims Russia's actions are politically motivated resulting from its opposition to a deep and comprehensive free trade area agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which entered into force on January 1, 2016. The WTO is expected to consider Ukraine's claim concerning Russia's restrictions in the second half of February.