Russia resolves disputes with EU on joining WTO - deputy PM
2010-11-25 12:08:22
Russia has resolved all disagreements with the European Union concerning its accession to the World Trade Organization, a Russian deputy premier said on Wednesday.
"We have resolved all issues, in line with the U.S. position... and Russia has no obstacles [from the EU] now," First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.
A Russian delegation headed by Shuvalov met on Wednesday with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other top EU officials in Brussels.
Russia, the only major economy outside the global trade body, has been negotiating WTO membership for 17 years, although the average accession period is only five to seven years.
Russia's Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina earlier said the talks would focus on the issue of export duties on lumber, which remains a stumbling block in Russia's WTO negotiations.
Russia expects to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2011.