RUSSIA has attacked Union moves to reduce import quotas for some of its steel products . . .

Date: 23/03/2000

. . . in retaliation for Moscow's decision to impose a 15% export duty on scrap metal. "The Russian side sees such action - as a violation of an agreement on partnership and cooperation and of the agreement on the trade of several steel products between Russia and the EU," Moscow's foreign ministry said in a statement. It added that such measures "can lead to retaliatory measures and an unnecessary complication in relations".