An EU-Ukraine arrangement on a free trade zone came into effect on January 1. The two sides have agreed to gradually streamline flows of goods as part of their association deal.
"Klimkin offered to consider a package of joint measures aimed at strengthening the economic effect of the free trade area’s implementation by promoting investments and business contacts between the businesspeople of Ukraine and the European Union, EU assistance in the development of export potential of Ukraine, further liberalization of access to the EU market for certain categories of Ukrainian exports and the Ukraine-EU coordination in the WTO [World Trade Organization]," the ministry said.
Therefore, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to suspend a free trade deal with Ukraine within the CIS in mid-December, effective from January 1, 2016.
