Poland urges EU-Russia dispute before WTO

Poland’s Ministry of Economy has asked the European Commission to start a dispute concerning the Russian embargo on EU food at the World Trade Organization, the ministry told the Polish Press Agency. Experts say that Russia might, in compliance with WTO regulations, be forced to pay damages arising from Russia’s market closure, but the decision is usually time-absorbing. Poland’s Minister of Agriculture Marek Sawicki plans a meeting with EU Commissioner for Trade Karl De Gucht to discuss the situation after Russia's import ban on EU agricultural produce. The WTO system for dispute solution assumes that consultations between the WTO member countries are a priority. A dispute arises when member countries consider the operations of another WTO member country as being against WTO regulations or duties imposed by the orgaznization. The Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ascertains that Polish fruit and vegetable sector may encounter losses amounting to about EUR 500 million, as a result of the Russian embargo.