KIEV, UKRAINE — Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk proposed on Nov. 25 at a cabinet meeting to set up trade representative offices in Brussels, Belgium, Washington, D.C. U.S., China, Egypt, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey.
Yatsenyuk said the agreement on free trade area between Ukraine and the E.U. would commence on Jan. 1, 2016.
The government "expects Russia’s introduction of an economic embargo against Ukraine," Yatsenyuk said, adding that "such a decision of Russia will entail an appropriate decision of Ukraine."
"We forecast that from Jan. 1 through the introduced restrictions by Russia, Ukrainian exports will decline by $600 million. But we have new opportunities, primarily due to the agreement on free trade area with the E.U.," said Yatsenyuk.
"Under the law, it is within the competence of the president of Ukraine, and I believe that the president of Ukraine will support the drive of the government," Yatsenyuk said.
The prime minister said the government officials would soon hold a meeting with the largest Ukrainian exporters.
"The meeting will concern a definite action plan on how to expand the geography of Ukrainian exports and to support Ukrainian exporters in their attempt to ramp up production," he said.