Russia to cut new car import duties to 25% after WTO accession

RIA Novosti (Moscow) - The Russian government will cut import duties on new cars to 25% from the existing 30% after the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Maxim Medvedkov, the country's chief WTO negotiator, said on Friday.

"After the accession import duties, introduced as anti-crisis measures in 2009, will be cut," Medvedkov told a conference dedicated to Russia's accession to the WTO.

The WTO has said that Russia could join this year.

The duty may be cut further to 15% seven years after accession, Medvedkov said, adding the next meeting on Russia's bid would be held on March 29.

Russia and the parties concerned have not yet discussed seven points of the negotiations program, including quotas for meet and poultry imported to Russia from WTO states.