New Russia-eu Agreement To Provide For Boost In Russia's Metallurgic Products Exports To Europe

A new Russia-European Union steel export agreement will envisage a boost in Russian metallurgic products exports to European markets, EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy told a news conference Wednesday. Negotiated at the moment is the amount by which Russian steel supplies can be boosted. Mr. Lamy is going to raise the issue at his meetings with Russian government officials due to take place later in the day. The acting agreement on trade in metallurgic products between Russia and the European Coal and Steel Community expires on December 31, recalled the EU official. We want to replace the effective agreement with a new one, which is consistent with both the European Union and Russia's positions, said Pascal Lamy. At the same time, the EU commissioner voiced concerns over export duties on ferrous metal scrap still in force in Russia, something, he said, which runs counter the country's trade commitments. Moscow, however, had more than once pointed to the fact that the current steel export agreement did not mention ferrous metal scrap. Moreover, Russia does not want the new agreement to contain a metal scrap proviso either.