G/MA/W/133  
 
28 September  2017 
(17-5183) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Market Access  Original: English  
 
 
 QUESTIONS FROM UKRAINE  TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERA TION 
ON EXPORT BAN ON LEA THER SEMI -PRODUCTS  
COMMUNICATION FROM UKRAINE  
 
The following communication, dated 22 September  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Ukraine . 
 
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According to notification G/MA/QR/N/RUS/3, the Russian Federation has pu t in place a temporary 
ban on  export of leather semi -products (HS codes 4104 11 and 410419).  
 
The measure was introduced pursuant to the Government’s Resolution of 12 July 2016 No. 66 5 for 
the period from 18 July 2016 to 18 January 2017. The measure was prolonged by the Resolution 
No. 20 of 18 January 2017 (until 1 August 2017).  
 
Ukraine understands that this measure is an extension of the ban introduced by the Government’s 
Resolution No. 826 of 19 August 2014 and subsequently prolonged until 30 May 2016.  
 
In its notification G/MA/QR/N/RUS/3  the Russian Federation  justifies this export prohibition on the 
basis of Article XXI (b(ii)) of the GATT.  
 
It seems that the ban, introduced in 2 014, was justified by the Government of the Russian 
Federation by a critical shortage of leather semi -products . 
 
The above -mentioned Resolutions No. 665 and No. 20 state that the temporary ban has been 
introduced  pursuant to Annex No. 7 to the EAEC Treaty , and in order to fulfil the so-called “state 
defense order”. The Resolutions also state that the ban has been imposed on products, which are 
essential for the RF’s internal market and may be subjected to temporary export prohibitions and 
restrictions in ex ceptional circumstances.  
 
According to subparagraph 1 of paragraph 12 of Annex No. 7 to the EAEC Treaty , temporary 
prohibitions or temporary quantitative restrictions of export may be instituted in exceptional 
circumstances in order to prevent or relieve c ritical shortages , in internal market, of foodstuffs or 
other  products essential to the Union’s internal market.  
 
In this respect, Ukraine would like to ask the Russian Federation:  
 
1. Has this measure been introduced pursuant to subparagraph 1 of paragraph 1 2 of Annex 
No. 7 to the EAEC Treaty?  
2. If not, what provisions of Annex No. 7 to the EAEC Treaty did the Russian Federation rely 
on as a legal basis for the imposition of the ban?  
3. What is meant by “exceptional circumstances” mentioned in the Resolutions and Annex No. 
7 to the EAEC Treaty?  
4. What kind of “exceptional circumstances” did the Russian Federation have in 2014 -2017 to 
introduce and maintain the ban?  
5. Has the measure expired? If yes, on what date did the ban terminate?  
6. Does the Russian Federation have any intentions to prolong or re -impose the ban?  G/MA/W/133  
 
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  7. Has the ban achieved the policy goal stated in the Government’s Resolutions – fulfilment of 
the “state defense order”?  
8. Did the Russian Federation have critical shortages of leather semi -products in 2014 -2017?  
Could the Russian Federation provide statistics on domestic production, consumption and 
import of leather semi -products in 2014 -2017?  
 
 
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