Russia set to end 18-year wait to join WTO
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China Daily via Agencies, November 4, 2011
Russia is on the verge of ending its 18-year wait to join the World Trade Organization after accepting a trade deal with Georgia, the last big obstacle to membership of a club that will seal its integration into the global economy.
Russia's accession will be the biggest step in world trade liberalisation since China joined a decade ago, making its $1.9 trillion economy more attractive to investors.
After nearly two decades of tortuous negotiations with the 153-member club, Russia's last challenge was to reach a deal with Georgia to stop its entry being blocked by the former Soviet republic.
President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia had accepted the terms of a compromise deal proposed by Tbilisi via Swiss mediators on monitoring mutual trade, and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili hailed the deal as a "diplomatic victory".
"We are ready to accept certain compromise ideas that have been recently worked out with the participation of Switzerland," Medvedev told reporters after the G20 summit in Cannes, France.
Medvedev said he hoped to have the "good news" of Russia's WTO membership tied up by the end of the year. Georgia, which does not have diplomatic relations with Moscow, said the agreements for Russia's bid should be all ready by November 10.
This is the date for a meeting of a WTO working group which can then draw up a final document for approval by WTO trade ministers in Geneva on December 15.
Entry also needs the approval of Russian parliament, which is likely before an election next March that is expected to return Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the presidency.
Putin sees economic gains
Russia's entry will secure membership of the biggest economy still outside the WTO and send a signal to companies and investors that Russia is starting to move closer to a rule-based system of doing business.
Putin can expect little in the way of electoral gains from an issue that analysts say does not interest voters.
But although he has shown signs of frustration with the long accession process, Putin has made clear he regards WTO entry as vital to fostering economic growth and development by attracting foreign investors and lowering trade barriers.
The World Bank says WTO entry could increase the size of the Russian economy by 3.3 percent in the medium term and 11 percent in the long term.
"WTO membership will have no immediate impact on economic growth, the day-to-day operations of Russia's corporations or on the risk premium investors apply to investment in the country," said Chris Weafer of Troika Dialog investment bank.
"However, membership does establish a powerful catalyst for a more serious approach to creating economic reform and industry efficiency."
Traders say a clear indication of a deal for entry could boost Russian stock markets by more than 5 percent, offering some potentially positive news for investors worried by volatility linked to the euro zone debt crisis.
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