Ukraine cancels emergency import duties on foreign cars

Ukraine on Wednesday lifted the emergency customs duties imposed on imported cars more than two years ago, the country's Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade said in a statement.

"Ukraine's national interests require the abolition of the special duties for imports of passenger cars regardless of the country of origin and export," said the statement, carried by the state-run newspaper The Government's Courier.

In March 2013, Kiev imposed emergency tariffs on imported passenger cars, saying the move was designed to stimulate Ukraine's domestic car production. Taxes on imported cars were raised by between 6.46 percent and 12.95 percent, depending on engine size.

However, the move failed to rally Ukraine's domestic car market as auto production from January to August this year plunged 83 percent year on year to 4,218 units after falling 43 percent in 2014. Endi