"If they [Europe] introduce a 28% import duty, which is discriminatory, we will have to impose the same amount on European goods," Arseniy Artsenyuk said, adding that the talks with the EU on the issue had little progress.
The minister said Ukraine was not demanding the abolition of import duties on pipes, but the new rate of 28% was unacceptable. He added that the EU decision, if enforced, would deny Ukraine access to European markets and force it to retaliate with similar measures against European imports.
The European Commission recently launched a special anti-dumping probe into imports of seamless pipes from various countries, including Ukraine. It has accused three major Ukrainian pipe producers of collusion, and imposed a new import duty that will come into force next month.
