Belarus gearing up for WTO entry
2012-08-28 10:09:47
Belarus has updated several documents on preparations to join the World Trade Organization. With this in mind a regulation on setting up an interagency commission on Belarus’ accession to the WTO has been revised, the press service of the Belarusian government told BelTA.
Council of Ministers resolution No. 782 of 23 August 2012 adopted the regulation and the composition of the secretariat of the interagency commission on Belarus’ accession to the WTO. In line with the resolution the commission has to adopt the composition of an interagency expert group on Belarus’ interaction with the World Trade Organization within three months. The document amended and expanded government resolution No. 1338 of 27 August 1999.
The interagency commission will be in charge of working out the negotiating stance, organization and conduct of negotiations on joining the WTO. It will also prepare proposals regarding the overall position (strategic tasks) of Belarus at consultations and negotiations on joining the WTO. It will determine tactical approaches to consultations and negotiations. The commission will take care of preparing basic documents within the framework of consultations and negotiations as well coordination of Belarus’ views on joining the WTO with partnering states in integration associations. The newly revised regulation details the system for interacting and coordinating views with partnering states in integration associations. If documents have to be prepared, agreed, and polished for the WTO, then national and international legal acts will be analyzed, including acts of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, for their compliance with WTO rules.
It is noted that documents for the WTO (their parts) should secure accession conditions, which are acceptable for Belarus. As a rule, the documents should not worsen the obligations specified by previous revisions of the documents. Requirements of WTO members for Belarus are also analyzed.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry and other government agencies will be responsible for interaction with the WTO.
The composition of the secretariat of the interagency commission on Belarus’ accession to the WTO has been approved. It will be headed by Igor Nazaruk, Deputy Department Director, Head of the Foreign Trade Policy Office of the Foreign Economic Activities Department of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.