KIEV, April 10 – In another sign of Ukraine’s worsening economy, auto imports fell to less than a third of their level one year ago in Q1.

State Customs Service chief Anatoliy Makarenko reported Friday that 23,500 cars were imported into Ukraine in January to March, down from 79,000 the prior year.

Makarenko said that the fall in imports is linked with the global economic crisis and changes in Ukrainian law in part of taxation of imported goods (13% duty on some imported goods).