Package of documents for Russian membership of WTO passed

A working group on obtaining membership in the WTO for Russia has passed a package of documents today, concluding talks that had been ongoing for 18 years. Over 60 states were part of the working group, a record number in the history of the WTO.

The package of documents includes a report of the working group describing the rights and obligations Russia will assume, a list of obligations on tariffs and support for agriculture, a list of services, a protocol on joining and decisions of the general council of the WTO.

The documents were passed to the ministerial conference of the organization. They will be reviewed in Geneva on December 15-17. Then Russia will officially be invited to join the WTO and will need to ratify documents. Russia will take about 6 months to ratify them.