KIEV, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine has become the 152nd member of the World Trade Organization, the largest global trade body.
The accession document was signed by President Viktor Yushchenko and WTO chief Pascal Lamy on February 5. It was ratified by the country's parliament, the Supreme Rada, on April 10, and approved by the president six days later.
The former Soviet republic's accession to the WTO came into effect on Friday.
WTO membership, which Ukraine has been seeking since 1993, will grant the country a number of advantages and open up certain opportunities, such as better terms of trade with other members, who account for more than 95% of global trade, as well as lower tariffs on and easier access for Ukrainian goods to fellow WTO members' markets.
