Ukraine plans drastic tariff increase on meat
As early as mid-January, Ukraine could raise import tariffs for all types of meat so much that deliveries to the country would no longer be profitable. According to a press release, tariffs are to be decided in Ukraine that would be higher than the rates permitted under WTO rules. Observers suspect that the government wants to improve its foreign trade balance by reducing imports. The country is obliged to do so after receiving a substantial injection of funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2008. IMF rules would allow higher tariff rates, although Ukraine, as a WTO member state, committed to tariff dismantling last year.