May 12 - The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is proposing reduction of import duty rates on some food and industrial products, and that the Government is allowed to change customs tariffs. The bill to this effect was registered in the Parliament.
In keeping with the bill, import duty rates are set in keeping with the level outlined by the schedule of Ukraine's tariff commitments for 2008, which is an inseparable part of the protocol on Ukraine's entry in the World Trade Organization.
The bill proposes reduction of the average import duty on meat products from 21.5% to 12.3%, dairy products from 24.9% to 10.01%, flour and cereals from 23.4% to 10.3%, finished food of meat, fish and shellfish products from 17.3% to 8.9%.
At the same time, it is proposed to revise import duty rates on eight commodity groups. Particularly, the average rate on paper and cardboard should be cut from 2.8% to 0%, copper and its products from 2.5% to 0.01%, automobiles, tractors, bicycles and other surface transportation means from 10.5% to 6.3%, and furniture from 9.6% to 3.9%.
The bill, if approved, takes effect at the moment Ukraine become a World Trade Organization member, except for changes in duties on some commodities, taking force January 1, 2009.