Signs of progress towards settling the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute over Russia’s ban on imports of EU pigmeat have started to emerge, following the latest session of trilateral talks between the European Commission (EU), the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
While the official EC communique from the meeting only expresses a general state of progress across a wide range of issues, it is understood that the alleged “disease-based” pigmeat dispute, which began in early 2014, was also discussed in relatively positive terms.
“Taking note of the current unsatisfactory developments of trade flows (between the three parties), the participants have reaffirmed their commitment towards achieving practical arrangements that would contribute to maintaining open economic relations with a view to enabling economic growth,” concluded a cautious EC statement, released this week.
It was also agreed that the participants will meet again to “take stock” of their work in November 2015, with the view that such a meeting with allow for a “mutually agreed outcome” before the end of the year.