Russia and the WTO

Russia has set an absolute record for the duration of the negotiations for accession to the WTO. Ended last week negotiation process continued, with interruptions of 18 years. If the political decision to join our finally accepted and all documents will be ratified by the Russian parliament in the period (ie until July next year), then the duration of "opening a marathon," we surpass the previous record holders, China (joined the WTO in 2001) and Ukraine (in 2008 m, however, is now going to peretorgovyvat membership conditions) once in three years.
It's safe to say that Russia, has filed an application for accession to the WTO, and Russia, now standing at the threshold of membership in a global "shopping club" - these are two different countries and two different economies. The degree of openness of the domestic market, if we leave out the crisis provoked by and declared as a temporary surge of protectionism in 2009, has grown substantially. Domestic producers of the second decade are stubborn, who well, who is almost hopeless, the struggle against foreign competitors, many of which are firmly settled in Russia for the wallets of more discerning consumers.

The decision in 1992 under the GATT for the U.S. law governing the import of tuna. American law on the protection of marine mammals banned imports of fish caught with the use of certain types of networks, the application of which killed dolphins. The law applies to both the U.S. and to foreign sellers of fish and in the opinion of the U.S. government set out to "legitimate target" for environmental protection. Mexico, a country that used this method of catching tuna, filed a complaint against the law, arguing that it violates free trade agreements and is prohibited under the GATT non-tariff restrictions. Preceded by the Commission does not recognize this law the relevant rules of free trade and pointed out that although the U.S. government challenged the ban and pursued the legitimate aim of protecting the dolphins, but this objective could be achieved otherwise, without infringing on others methods. Tuna / Dolphin Case I (English)

A similar argument with respect to the law prohibiting the import of shrimp in the United States caught using dangerous to sea turtles, was brought before the Commission is of the WTO in 2000. Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Thailand), who used this method of fishing, the view that such restrictions on imports in the U.S. are nothing but a "green protectionism", for which in fact is the desire of developed countries to restrict imports of cheap imports and environmental studies are just a pretext. In considering this matter, the Commission although they recognized in the reasoning of its decision the possibility that measures to protect the environment may theoretically be a legitimate reason to restrict imports of certain goods, but in case law prohibiting importation of shrimp, in her opinion, does not conform to WTO and the United States are required to cancel it. Shrimp / Turtle

The bulk of trade disputes in the WTO constitute the major disputes between subjects of international trade - the European Union and the United States. So, for example, has received wide publicity about the conflict entered the U.S. in March 2002, high tariffs on imports of European steel to support the American steel industry. The European Union saw it as discrimination prohibited by WTO rules and the measures challenged in the complaint of the Commission, which acknowledged the measures to protect the U.S. market in violation of WTO rules. United States were forced to repeal the discriminatory duties.

Russia and the WTO

Review

The accession of Russia to the WTO is the opposite point of view, however, coverage and free debate on this subject in the state media are not available.

World Trade Organization members are already 155 countries, and in the next few years their number will increase. This means that virtually every state that aspires to create a modern, efficient economy and equal participation in world trade, aims to become a WTO member. In this sense, Russia is no exception.

Participation in the WTO gives the country a lot of advantages. Their preparation is in the pragmatic sense for the accession to the WTO. The specific objectives of the accession of Russia are as follows:

Getting the best in comparison with the existing, and nondiscriminatory access for Russian products for foreign markets;

Access to the international mechanism for resolving trade disputes;

Creating a more favorable climate for foreign investment as a result of bringing the legal system into conformity with WTO rules;

Increased opportunities for Russian investors in the WTO members, particularly in the banking sector;

Creating conditions for improving the quality and competitiveness of domestic production by increasing the flow of foreign goods, services and investments into the Russian market;

Participation in the development of international trade rules, taking into account its national interests;

Improving the image of Russia in the world as a full participant in international trade.

The history of negotiations between Russia and the WTO

In 1986 the USSR issued a bid for observer status in the Uruguay Round negotiations with a view to joining the GATT. United States, however, rejected this claim, saying it, that the USSR is a country with a planned economy, which is incompatible with the principles of free trade. Only in 1990 the USSR was able to obtain observer status.

In 1993, Russia has sent an official application for accession to the GATT. In 1995, talks on Russia's accession to the WTO.

The most difficult negotiations were conducted with the U.S., EU and China. Disagreements with the European Union failed to settle after Russia backed the Kyoto Protocol. The most difficult were the negotiations with the United States, which were conducted over six years. The main differences concerned the issues of financial markets, the supply of agricultural products in Russia and the protection of intellectual property rights. Russia and the U.S. signed a protocol on Russia's accession to WTO, 20 November 2006. The signing took place during the session of the Asia-Pacific Forum in Hanoi (Vietnam).

Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization is constantly postponed also because of the need to prepare for WTO membership and to reduce losses from the merger. Complicated the WTO and the beginning of the world financial crisis, which forced many countries to think not about free trade, but on the contrary, the strict regulation of their economies.

In June 2009, at a meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council in Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made an official statement about the termination of individual negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO. At the same time he announced that the negotiations on accession to the WTO in January 2010 Russia will participate in the (on behalf) of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. In the WTO, according to the Treaty establishing the WTO (WTO Agreement) may come as a country, and separate customs territory (for example, the EU is a WTO member, as well as all the countries separately, are included in it). October 21, 2009 First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will join the WTO at the same time and on agreed terms. This would allow, and to join the WTO, and to keep the Customs Union.

October 5, 2010 press speaker of Georgian President stated that Georgia's position on Russia's accession to the WTO remains "unchanged", and it can not support this decision "as long as those conditions are met, that the Georgian authorities to put forward in particular, it involves customs checkpoints and a whole range of issues and problems that exist between Georgia and Russia. " The main requirement of Georgia in connection with the adoption of Russia's WTO accession was that two illegal were legalized in the opinion of the Georgian border check point in the conflict zones of Georgia - "Psou" (Abkhazia), and Rocky Bottom Zaromag (Tskhinvali region). At the same time, the agency "Reuters" reports that the World Economic Forum on the Alliance on 22 September in New York, in a conversation with investors and government circles President Mikhail Saakashvili said that Georgia is not the only factor hindering the way of making the Russian Federation to the WTO "Between them (WTO) and Russia, there are many issues - said Mikheil Saakashvili - Thus, not only we were, and you should give us some time, until we become the latest ... maybe we are not going to last. Right now there is a huge part of. "

December 7, 2010 in Brussels was held Russia-EU summit. Before the summit, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht signed a memorandum of the talks on Russia's accession to the WTO. The document notes that the parties have removed all problems. Including the settlement of Russian export duties on timber. Russia has abandoned plans to increase next year, and after joining the WTO, and has promised to do to reduce .

By the end of October 2011 under the mediation of Switzerland, the text of a treaty between Russia and Georgia agreed, and October 31, 2011 Russian presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich expressed confidence that Russia join the WTO, December 15, 2011. November 4 appeared information that Ukraine may withdraw its consent to Russia's accession to the WTO. November 9th, Georgia and Russia through the mediation of Switzerland signed an agreement on Russia's accession to the WTO. In the words of the Russian side, in accordance with this agreement, audited data on trafficking at the border of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will undertake an independent company, which will also provide assistance to Russian and Georgian customs services. November 10 a meeting of the working group, in the course of which the final report has been prepared to admit Russia to the WTO. Having prepared all of the documentary, the commission announced the completion of its work and disband. [Citation needed 220 days] 16 December 2011 at the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, Russia was admitted to the WTO. For the final entry now need ratification of the treaty by the Russian parliament.

Conditions for accession

Protocol on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization in the Russian translation (without appendices) is available at Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, which is also available in full text in English.

In December 2006, was published detailed background information about the main results of the negotiations, which shows how information on the major commodity items, as well as consolidated data for the rest. Results for November 2011 for all the thousands of positions published in English on the website Miniekonomrazvitiya. Prior to that, the negotiations were conducted behind closed doors, that is claimed to be a common practice for talks on economic issues, including the WTO. These data suggest that during the first year after the entry fee, no foreign trade have been reduced. According to different product groups provide transitional periods from 1 year to 7 years for 7 years, duties on industrial goods will drop on average from 11.1% to 8.2%. Customs duties on consumer goods, mass-produced in Russia, virtually no decline (except for cars and shoes). At the same time, will be eliminated tariffs on computers and the element base, reduced duties on consumer electronics and electrical engineering, medicine, technology and scientific equipment. The state will provide assistance to agriculture in an amount not more than nine billion dollars a year (now aid of 4.5 billion dollars a year, but the size of the subsidy will be discussed at multilateral negotiations).