Russia seeks early admission to WTO

The Russian government on Monday ordered the federal agencies concerned to intensify efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

A joint session of the government commissions on economic integration and WTO admission issued orders to increase work to create a unified economic space (with Kazakhstan and Belarus) and secure admission to the WTO at the earliest possible date, according to a press release posted on the government's website.

It offered no timeframe.

Kremlin economic aide Arkady Dvorkovich said last Tuesday Russia would decide whether to join the WTO individually or as part of a customs union after completing talks with the U.S. in 2010.

The presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed a package of deals on November 27 to create a customs union with common tariffs, paving the way for a single economic space.

Russia has been attempting to enter the WTO for over 16 years. Russia is the only major economically sustainable country that has so far not received membership. Other countries such as Cuba and some ex-Soviet states are already members.

In June 2009, the heads of governments of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus notified the WTO of their intention to join the world trade club as a customs union. The three ex-Soviet republics suspended their bilateral negotiations on the WTO entry to hold consultations on a common position on the customs union.

In October 2009, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus announced they would resume talks on WTO accession separately, but on synchronized positions.

MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti)