Ukrainian govt approves grant from Germany, package of trade protection bills adapted to EU norms

MOSCOW. Nov 27 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government has approved a German grant of almost 2 billion hryvni, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.

"The government has made a decision to enable drawing a grant of almost 2 billion hryvni from Germany," Ukrainian media quoted Shmygal as saying on a social network.

In his words, the money will facilitate the government's further funding of the 5-7-9 business support program.

The media also said that the Ukrainian government approved bills On Protective Measures, On Protection against Dumping Imports, and On Protection against Subsidized Imports, which presented new editions of the existent laws, on November 24.

"The bills adapt Ukrainian laws in the field of trade protection to the EU regulations and enhance protection, in particular, for national manufacturers," Ukrainian media quoted a statement by the Economy Ministry's website.

In the words of Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko, the approved bills correspond to the existent international practices of trade protection, including norms and current clarifications from the WTO.

"Should the Ukrainian parliament approve the bills, the government will acquire trade protection instruments, which would be reliable, transparent and clear to Ukrainian businesses and our partners," Sviridenko said.

The Economy Ministry said that the approved package broadened the capacity of national manufacturers for protection against unfair and growing imports, reduced their expenses on preparing materials and documentation for safeguard investigations, clarified timeframes for procedural stages of safeguard investigations, and guaranteed consultations at the request of the interested party.

Additionally, the package introduces a mechanism, which guarantees the payment of previous protective duties or dues when investigating evasion of their payment, expands the circle of "users" of this mechanism among businesses, and clarifies the powers of relevant authorities during investigations.