Earlier, Viktor Yanukovych had pushed for the country's entry to the WTO as quickly as possible, but now says the decision has to be coordinated and thoroughly considered.
"The government's main task in 2006 is to decide on accession to the WTO," Yanukovych said. "We are just a step away from entering the WTO. We must take this step deliberately, together with society and the manufacturing unions."
Ukraine has been pursuing WTO membership for 13 years. Through a national unity agreement signed before a new government was formed two weeks ago, Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko persuaded leading politicians to push for WTO membership this year.
Yanukovych said that the earlier date for WTO accession must not negatively impact Ukrainian manufacturers.
"It would be wrong if we conceded on positions which would damage our market and our manufacturers," he said.
He added that the government intended to consult Ukrainian manufacturers on the country's accession to the world's largest free trade organization.
