BRUSSELS - Russia and the European Union reached a deal Wednesday, the way for Russia to which WTO could pave in 2011.
"We have resolved almost all the questions," Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said after a meeting with EU officials, trade including European Commissioner Karel de Gucht.
John Clancy, Mr de Gucht of spokesman, called Thursday's agreement "important milestone" in Russia's 17-year-old Kandidatur.Russland is the only large economy, which does not belong to the WTO. Membership must be approved by all 153 members of the body based in Geneva.
Russia disabled a major hurdle with approval from the us in September.The EU is remaining formal obstacle now and Mr Shuvalov came to Brussels by an important summit between the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels on Dec. 7.
On the table, taxes on commodities, especially wood were a wide range of issues under the direction of Russian export."This will end if Russia membership," said Mr Shuvalov.Alles what is set to "Terminal" in December, he said.
EU officials admit that Russia could be delayed by the long list of WTO rules with which it including canceling State aid programs unfair hygiene for farm imports and weak enforcement of rights to intellectual property must satisfy.
"Mr Shuvalov dismissed the notion that WTO member could be an obstacle Georgia that went to war with Russia in 2008." We have heard nothing about Georgia block ", he said."
Georgia haven't said what is going to do it, although it, will be under pressure to follow the United States, by far its most important ally.
Director Pascal Lamy said in an interview last week WTO Russia WTO track "was acceleration."
"Both"[Russian Prime Minister] Putin and Medvedev, who say it is a political priority,"said Mr Lamy,."And if you look at the WTO-related legislation of the State Duma has passed in the last six months, which seems to be the case, said he, referring to Russia's lower House of the Parlaments.Er added, "Another question is whether you join in 2011." "
On paper, Russia has tried to get into the WTO since 1993.In practice, it has advised stalled and moves toward membership delayed. the reason is that WTO membership could lead to lose more than it gains Russia: oil and gas, which make up the majority of Russian exports are covered by rules.WTO accession would Moscow import duties on nearly all were, cut exposing force considerable production base for the foreign competition.
The financial crisis made WTO membership may have more problematic for Russia.Yourself of economic storms roiling around the world to protect import duties wandered on were cars to Chemikalien.Zum part as a result was his imports at $155.2 billion in 2009 from $ 255.7 billion in 2008.
In June of this year said Mr Putin Russia would withdraw, its application to report you join themselves to the WTO and instead as a trading block of Kazakhstan and Belarus.
A month later, Mr Medvedev this decision reversed, calling the term accession as a Customs Union, the "problematic."
"Separately, said Mr Shuvalov Russia was committed to sell a 10 percent stake to VTB, the second largest bank for not less than $3 billion, hopefully in the first quarter of 2011."We hope in the first quarter of next year ", he said.""If the current market does not support our price, we see no reason to sell."
"He also said that the Government planned to sell shares in Rosneft, his top oil producer and Russian railways.""" We look at how we can do it,"he said.""We need the money, but there is no rush."
Separately, United Kingdom will continue its efforts to expand their trade relations as besucht.In of a speech delivered Thursday in the Russian capital business Secretary Vince cable Moscow Mr cable was expected to Russia's WTO bid back and say, he sees potential for deeper relationships between the UK and Russian companies in innovation and technology.
He is Skolkovo, plans the international technology hub Russia outside of Moscow, than opening quote "one where I see real opportunities for British companies and investors."
Mr cable leads a delegation of several dozen business leaders to Russia, following travel by Mr Cameron in China and India this year.
Mr Cameron announced this month it is the first UK-become Prime Minister to visit Russia since 2005 next year when the two countries look behind you several years of strained relations.
-Laurence Norman London contributed to this article.Write toJohn Miller to the john.miller@dowjones.com
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