CHELYABINSK, July 26 - Russia's Economic Development Ministry is looking over the possibility of cutting a long-term pipe and steel deal with Ukraine in place of the current quota procedure, Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach said during a metallurgy meeting in Chelyabinsk.

Speaking about non-tariff measures for market regulation, Klepach said that Russia has a quota agreement with Ukraine effective until the end of the year. His ministry and Ukraine's Economics Ministry signed in late April an additional agreement about the non-tariff entry into Russia of 260,000 tons of large-diameter pipe this year.