Ukraine, EU reach understanding on customs duties - Ukrainian minister
BRUSSELS. Dec 13 (Interfax) - Ukraine and the European Union have reached an understanding on the issue of customs duties and the losses the Ukrainian economy will suffer after signing the association agreement with the EU, Ukraine's Revenues and Duties Minister Oleksandr Klymenko said.
"There is mutual understanding, including on the issue of the serious losses that the Ukrainian economy will suffer after signing [the agreement] with the EU. We see a positive signal in the possibility of reconsidering and reaching symmetry in customs issues (duties), which is undoubtedly important to Ukrainian enterprises," the minister told Interfax.
Klymenko reiterated that Ukraine had focused solely on the interests of the Ukrainian economy in those negotiations. "The interests of Ukrainian businesses and the domestic market should be as protected as much as possible," he said.
"The negotiations were productive and they showed that there are no insurmountable contradictions between the parties. On the contrary, the positions of the EU and Ukraine are very close and full mutual understanding will be achieved after the needed preparations are made. Ukraine, the government, and Ukrainian businesses are facing several months of hard work," the minister said.