market status gives Ukrainian producers lower import tax rates for goods exported to the E.U. The change, once in effect, is expected to dramatically widen access to the European market to key Ukrainian exports including low- cost steel, chemicals, machinery, and food stuffs. European implementation of the changes will come in "one to two months," Yushchenko said. The new free-market status is expected to ease Ukrainian efforts to join the WTO, which would reduce duties on Ukrainian exports worldwide. Blair predicted Ukraine's entrance into the WTO "in the first part of 2006". Further reductions would come at a subsequent step in the integration process, when Ukraine entered the E.U. free trade zone, Barroso said. The recognition as a market economy is also expected to give Ukrainian firms a significantly stronger position in disputes with E.U. manufacturers over allegations of Ukrainian dumping. The decision means that the E.U. is now due to use Ukrainian trade and price data for such inquiries, instead of using cost estimates involving other nations. Ukraine's government has estimated the country loses between 200 and 300 million dollars a year due to the current high protective tariff barriers for low-cost Ukrainian exports to the 25-nation E.U. --SP 0002 Local Time 2102 GMT
