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New obstacles in WTO talks

Russia and the WTO (illustration by BarentsObserver)

Russia is unlikely to succeed with its much-announced intention to become member of the World Trade Organization in the course of 2011.

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Speaking at a conference in Sankt Petersburg last week, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed strong skepticism with his country’s negotiations on WTO membership. The premier maintained that Russia as part of the membership bid is forced to adopt a number of WTO regulations, while it gets little in return. Putin wants an end to this situation and in the conference underlined that “we will not fulfill anything [more], before we become fully-fledged members”.

According to newspaper Vedomosti, Russia has in the course of several years adjusted international trade customs tariffs in accordance with WTO standards, and become one of the most liberal countries with regards to protection measures of its national industry. However, Russian industry does not enjoy the similar advantages when trading with WTO countries.

With his statements, Putin might give a new setback to Russia’s bid for membership in the important international trade club. That will be a major blow to President Medvedev who has made the WTO membership a top issue on his international agenda.

Read also: Getting close to Russian WTO membership

The prime minister has himself been a centerpiece in several of Russia’s former setbacks in the talks. When the negotiations were about to be finalized in 2009, Putin, reportedly without the consent of President Medvedev, announced that Russia would abstain from further talks because of the country’s new customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Also in 2006, Putin was instrumental in the collapse of talks because of his introduction of new trade protection measures for Russian round timber, Vedomosti writes.

Read also: Sweden, Finland put Russian WTO bid on hold