Russia Slated to Join WTO
Russia is expected to become a member of the World Trade Organization next year.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 28, 2010
Russian accession to the World Trade Organization has been under negotiation for some 17 years. But in just a few more months, if last-minute hurdles are cleared with the U.S. and European Union, Russia may finally win membership, which would open new avenues for U.S. agriculture to resolve trade disputes with Moscow.
"We want them the ability to both work within the WTO and like everyone else be subject to the dispute settlement system if there are issues," said American Farm Bureau's Dave Salmonsen.
But, even before Russia's allowed to join, Salmonsen says Farm Bureau wants the Obama Administration to insist Moscow 'clean up its act' on poultry and pork restrictions.
"While we think our pork and poultry is moving it has been a tedious process to get that going and those discussions are still continuing," Salmonsen said. "The second major issue area is the amount of subsidies that Russia can use for its own agriculture."
The E-U and others have similar concerns. President Obama says he wants Russia in the WTO, but Salmonsen says "it's not a done deal yet." U.S. lawmakers would also have to repeal the cold war-era Jackson-Vanik amendment that punished Russia on trade for preventing emigration of Soviet Jews.
"That basically has to be dealt with, put aside, for the purpose of granting Russia permanent normal trade relations," Salmonsen said. "That's something that I think people have to decide that this is important enough that they want to be in favor of it, and then they can deal with the Jackson-Vanik issue."
Salmonsen does not see party differences over Jackson-Vanik though repeal could add time to Russia's WTO accession bid.
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