EU to Request WTO Arbitration Over Russia's Anti-Dumping Fees

BRUSSELS, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - The European Union will request setting up an arbitration panel at the World Trade Organization concerning Russia’s practice of imposing anti-dumping duties on light commercial vehicles (LCVs) from Germany and Italy, a EU source told RIA Novosti on Monday.

Exports of EU-produced vehicles weighing between 2.8 and 3.5 tons to Russia amounted to over 100 million euros ($137 million) in 2012, but they have been decreasing since Moscow imposed a so-called "recycling fee" in September 2012 on cars, trucks, buses and other motor vehicles just days after joining the WTO.

"The EU has informed the WTO about its plans to request setting up an arbitration panel at the next session of the WTO dispute settlement committee on September 26," the source said.