DS: Russian Federation — Measures Concerning the Exportation of Wood Products

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Summary of the dispute to date

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Consultations

Complaint by the European Union

On 20 January 2022, the European Union requested consultations with the Russian Federation with regard to two sets of measures adopted by the Russian Federation allegedly restricting the exportation of wood products. The first set of measures concerns the termination of tariff-rate quotas on exports of wood products. The second set of measures concerns the reduction of the number of border crossing points for the exportation of wood products.

The European Union claimed that the termination of tariff-rate quotas and the increases in export duties on wood products appear to be inconsistent with:

• Article II:1(a) of the GATT 1994; and
   
• Paragraph 2, second sentence, of the Russian Federation's Protocol of Accession, in conjunction with paragraphs 638 and 1450 of the Working Party Report on the Russian Federation's accession to the WTO.

The European Union claimed that the reduction of the number of border crossing points for the exportation of wood products appears to be inconsistent with:

• Articles I:1, XI:1 and XIII:1 of the GATT 1994; and
   
• Paragraph 2, second sentence, of the Russian Federation's Protocol of Accession, in conjunction with paragraphs 668 and 1450 of the Working Party Report on the Russian Federation's accession to the WTO.

On 17 February 2022, the European Union revised its consultations request, and also requested consultations with the Russian Federation with respect to two other sets of measures. The first set of measures concerns increases in export duties on wood products. The second set of measures concerns the introduction of alleged introduction of export restrictions or prohibitions on certain wood products by the Eurasian Economic Union.

The European Union claimed that the increases in export duties on wood products appear to be inconsistent with:

• Article II:1(a) of the GATT 1994; and
   
• Paragraph 2, second sentence, of the Russian Federation's Protocol of Accession, in conjunction with paragraphs 638 and 1450 of the Working Party Report on the Russian Federation's accession to the WTO.

The European Union claimed that the introduction of export restrictions or prohibitions on certain wood products by the Eurasian Economic Union appears to be inconsistent with:

• Articles I:1, XI:1 and XIII:1 of the GATT 1994; and
   
• Paragraph 2, second sentence, of the Russian Federation's Protocol of Accession, in conjunction with paragraphs 668, 1449 and 1450 of the Working Party Report on the Russian Federation's accession to the WTO.