On December 13, 2006 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the last law on the WTO, thereby closely came nearer to accession to WTO. The next meeting of the General Council of the WTO will take place in Geneva on December 20-21 on which the question of the introduction of Ukraine in the WTO will be considered.
It is glad passed the last law on the WTO
On December 13, 2006 the Verkhovna Rada passed the law on rates of export (export) duty on a breakage of ferrous metals, a breakage of non-ferrous metals and semi-finished products with their use.
For the law 363 People’s Deputies from 442 registered voted.
This document lifted a ban on export of a breakage of non-ferrous metals and the alloys, the alloyed ferrous metals, and also for export of semi-finished products from not refined copper after the accession to the World Trade Organization.
Rates of export duty on a breakage of the alloyed ferrous metals, a breakage of non-ferrous metals and semi-finished products with their use according to which in the first year coming after the introduction of Ukraine in the WTO, the rate of export duty will make 30 %, in the second year – 27 %, in the third – 24 %, in the fourth – 21 %, in the fifth – 18 % and the sixth – 15 % are established.
The decision on the declared customs cost of the goods specified in the law, is accepted by customs offices taking into account the prices defined on the basis of monthly monitoring of the prices at the world exchanges (The London exchange of metals, the New York trading exchange).
By the law it is established that at payment of export duty the foreign currency is recalculated at the official rate of hryvnia established by National bank.
From the date of law coming into effect, the goods specified in it, are withdrawn from a mode of free trade with foreign states on what the Cabinet council informs in a month these states.
The law comes into force on January 1, 2007, the accession of Ukraine following after a year to the WTO. The cabinet council is entrusted by this law to bring into accord with its norms government normative legal acts.
At the end of November, 2006 the president of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko declared that if the parliament will manage to adopt all laws necessary for accession to WTO till December 20-21 when in Geneva will pass the next meeting of the General Council of the WTO, Ukraine can count on the accession to this organization at the beginning of 2007.
Process of accession of Ukraine to the WTO lasts more than 12 years. 16 official meetings of the working group on consideration of the demand of Ukraine about the accession to this organization are carried out.
All neighbors of Ukraine (except Russia and Belarus) already are members of the WTO. About 70 % of the Ukrainian export are the share of the countries of the WTO.
(On Internet site materials).