MOSCOW, October 31 (RAPSI) – The European Union has lodged a complaint against Russia with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over export  tariffs on a range of goods, a statement of the organization reads.

The European Union has accused Russia of levying taxes that were higher than permitted on several categories of products, including paper and cardboard, palm oil and its derivatives, refrigerators and combined refrigerator-freezers.

Under WTO rules, Russia has 60 days to settle the issue in direct talks with the EU. If no solution is found, the EU could escalate the dispute by asking the WTO to adjudicate.

This dispute is the fifth involving Russia and the EU at the WTO.

Ukraine previously appealed to the WTO after Russia limited the import of Ukrainian fruit and vegetables.

In late July, the EU followed the US example and introduced sectoral sanctions against Russian over differences on the crisis in Ukraine. 

On August 7, Russia introduced a ban on a number of products from countries that had imposed sanctions on Russia. The blacklisted food imports include meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables from Australia, Canada, Norway, the European Union and the United States.