KIEV, Nov. 15 – The European Union has sent a request to join the consultations requested by Japan with the Ukrainian government under an agreement with the World Trade Organization (on safeguards in relation to duties on imported vehicles, introduced by Kiev on April 13.

"The European Union is the world's largest producer of automobile and automobile parts, and also a major exporter worldwide, with more than EUR 100 billion worth of exports of passenger cars in 2012. Out of that, the European Union has exported in 2012 more than EUR 1 billion worth of passenger cars to Ukraine. It has therefore a substantial trade interest in this dispute," Brussels explained its involvement in the dispute, according to an official statement issued by the WTO on Friday.

As was reported, Japan late in October 2013 initiated consultations with Ukraine regarded limitations levied in spring 2013 on the import of passenger cars.