The Ukraine's pipe producers association UkrTrubProm has expressed its concerns that Russia may impose a 28.1 percent special duty on imports of stainless steel pipes from Ukraine, the Ukrainian News information agency has reported
UkrTrubProm has stated that the possibility of duty introduction will be examined by Russia regarding all the stainless steel pipe imports to the country, not only from Ukraine. However, if the decision is taken, UkrTrubProm continued, then it would affect in a discriminatory way precisely the Ukrainian supplies as they account for the main part of stainless steel pipes delivered to Russia.
In addition, UkrTrubProm considers that the intention in question as regards Ukrainian products is unjustified, as Ukrainian exports of stainless steel pipes to Russia were fixed by an agreement on January 13, 2005, according to which companies have accepted voluntary self-restrictions on deliveries of pipes to Russia, limiting themselves to amounts which will not harm Russian producers.
Furthermore, according to UkrTrubProm, the prices of Ukrainian stainless steel pipes in the Russian market considerably exceed both the other countries' prices and the prices of Russian products.
If Russia imposes a 28.1 percent duty on imports of stainless steel pipes from Ukraine, UkrTrubProm intends to request the Ukrainian government to introduce reciprocal measures on Russian imports.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, in February 2009 Russia announced its intention to reduce the quotas for duty-free imports of Ukrainian pipes.