RUSSIALINK TRANSCRIPT: “Vladimir Putin’s news conference; Following the G20 summit, the President of Russia answered journalists’ questions.” – KremlinRu

File Photo of Country Flags Outside 2017 G20 Meeting in Hamburg, adapted from image at state.gov

(Kremlin.ru – June 29, 2019 – en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/60857) President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. Let us begin. Go ahead, please. Question: Good afternoon, Mr President. We would like to ask, since I am the first to ask a question, about your personal results of the summit. There was a lot of scepticism prior to it, coming both from other leaders […]

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RUSSIALINK: “WTO has essentially ceased to function due to U.S. actions – minister” – Interfax

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MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) – The actions of the United States in the area of international trade have led to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) activities coming to a virtual standstill and one can theoretically conceive that the trade body will cease to function altogether, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin said on the Main Actors with Nailya Asker-Zade show […]

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RUSSIALINK: “WTO modernization among key issues at G20 summit – Russian Sherpa” – Interfax

File Photo of Country Flags Outside 2017 G20 Meeting in Hamburg, adapted from image at state.gov

MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax) – The G20 summit will discuss ways to modernize the World Trade Organization (WTO) as one of the key issues at their summit and, hopefully, find a common approach to the matter, Russia’s G20 Sherpa Svetlana Lukash said. “As for trade, the key question of course is: what is going to happen to the main international […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Sanctions undermine international system, time bomb planted under WTO – Medvedev” – Interfax

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BEIJING. Nov 7 (Interfax) – International sanctions have planted a time bomb under World Trade Organization (WTO) procedures, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “In fact, a time bomb has been planted under the WTO regimes now, which the WTO, World Bank, and IMF managers have talked about. So this is very bad,” Medvedev told journalists on Wednesday. The restrictive […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Kennan Cable No. 33: A Russian Pivot to Asia? Russian Trade with Asia from 2006 to 2016 [Excerpt]” – Kennan Institute/Michael Corbin

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(Kennan Institute – wilsoncenter.org/program/kennan-institute – Michael Corbin – May 18, 2018) Michael Corbin has nearly twenty years of experience in the international financial services and trade arena, the majority with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Finance and Insurance Industries. On August 22, 2012, the Russian Federation officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) after almost 18 years of […]

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TRANSCRIPT: Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with Russian and German business leaders at the Munich Security Conference

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(Government.ru – February 13, 2016) Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Buechele, colleagues. I welcome you to our breakfast on this Saturday morning. It’s this kind of morning meal where you don’t usually have the chance to eat anything. The goal of such meetings is naturally different. I consider this meeting to be useful and timely. Despite all that’s going on and all […]

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Russia gripes to WTO about EU gas market laws

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(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Iana Dreyer in Brussels – June 24, 2015) Russia has formally requested that a dispute settlement panel be established at the World Trade Organization to rule on its complaints against EU energy market laws. From a legal and geopoliticial perspective, this is perhaps one of the most interesting cases the WTO will have to […]

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Not all EU-Russia trade disputes are about politics

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(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Iana Dreyer in Brussels – April 2, 2015) It looks like part of the trade war, but it isn’t. The World Trade Organization is about to set up its fourth dispute settlement panel in two years between Brussels and Moscow. One could mistake this as a sign of the growing trade tensions amid the […]

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Putin’s import substitution policy is working

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(Business New Europe – bne.eu – October 21, 2014) When Russian President Vladimir Putin cut off European Union imports of agricultural products earlier this year, one of the rationales was to give a boost to the badly underdeveloped domestic sector – and it seems to working. September’s retail and investment numbers were down but agricultural production soared by 16.8% year-on-year […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia to Use All Possible Measures in WTO to Contest Sanctions – Putin’s Press Secretary

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SOCHI, August 11 (RIA Novosti) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has a wide range of possible responses to Western sanctions under the rules of the World Trade Organization that can be used by any member. “There is a whole range of measures and defined tools within the WTO which, of course, each WTO member state has the right […]

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Russia to Challenge U.S. Sanctions at WTO

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Mark Lammey – July 21, 2014) Russia is planning to complain to the World Trade Organization, or WTO, abou t sanctions imposed by the U.S. over Russia’s perceived failure to help de-escalate the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, media reports said. The U.S. on Wednesday let rip with its third and harshest round of sanctions against […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia to Contest West’s Unilateral Economic Sanctions in WTO

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ST. PETERSBURG, June 20 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow intends to refer the issue of unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West to the World Trade Organization, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday. “When the United States imposed on Russia sanctions that create negative consequences for foreign trade, we decided to challenge them in the World Trade Organization. […]

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Russia tests waters of WTO dispute settlement with EU complaints

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(Business New Europe – bne.eu – COMMENT: Jennifer Freedman of Borderlex – May 17, 2014) Less than two years after becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia has filed two complaints with the dispute settlement body in Geneva that target the EU, Russia’s main trading partner. These complaints concern antidumping duties and a package of EU laws […]

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Russia files suit in WTO against EU Third Energy Package

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(Interfax – May 5, 2014) Russia filed a suit with the World Trade Organization on April 30 to begin judicial hearings on the application of the European Union’s Third Energy Package, a source close to the WTO told Interfax. The chief trade negotiator at the Economic Development Ministry, Maxim Medvedkov confirmed that the suit has been filed. He said that […]

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Russia to Send 32-Member Permanent Mission to WTO

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 5, 2014) More than a year and a half after joining the World Trade Organization, Russia has decided the size of its permanent mission to promote the country’s interests at the body’s headquarters in Geneva. The mission will be staffed by 27 representatives of the Economic Development Ministry and five specialists from the Foreign […]

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Interfax: Russia to set up appraisal center for WTO issues

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(Interfax – January 29, 2014) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered to set up an autonomous non-profit organization, a center for appraisal of World Trade Organization issues, jointly with the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Sberbank (MOEX: SBER), the Russian government website reported on Wednesday. “To establish jointly with the federal state autonomous institution of higher […]

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Interfax: WTO will remain, but still no progress seen in talks – Russian minister

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BALI. Dec 3 (Interfax) – The ninth WTO ministerial conference in Bali will not resolve all the problems of the Doha Round, but even if it ends in failure the World Trade Organization “will not disappear – if only because there is no alternative to it,” Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said in an interview with Interfax before the […]

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Interfax: Russia may file 3-4 lawsuits in WTO in next 2-3 years – ministry

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MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – Russia may file three to four lawsuits in the WTO over the next two to three years, Maksim Medvedkov, the head of the Economic Development Ministry’s trade negotiations department, said at a roundtable during a business strategy conference organized by Vedomosti newspaper in Moscow on Tuesday. “In the next two to three years I see […]

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Government Sees WTO Dividend One Year On

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Guennadi Moukine – October 30, 2013) Membership in the World Trade Organization, or WTO, has increased Russia’s overall economic competitiveness, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday at a review of the impact of the country’s participation a year after ascension. However, Russia needs to learn how to fully utilize the opportunities presented by membership, including […]

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Medvedev: New influential alliances must be monitored

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GORKI. Oct 29 (Interfax) – Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has urged the government to analyze the emerging alliances, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union which, he said, could impact Russia’s economic interests. “While tacking issues related to the World Trade Organization one cannot disregard other processes in the global economy. […]

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BRICS should consolidate efforts to defend themselves within WTO – Russian Chamber of Commerce head

File Photo of Flags of BRICS Nations and BRICS Logo from Past Summit

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Oct 28 (Interfax) – Sergei Katyrin, the head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has suggested to President Vladimir Putin that the BRICS countries should consolidate their efforts in defending their positions in the World Trade Organization (WTO). “We consider the possibility of working together with BRICS. Separately, we probably do not exceed the leading countries or […]

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Interfax: Medvedev urges maximum use of WTO protection mechanisms

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(Interfax – October 29, 2013) Russia should fully use the dispute settlement opportunities provided by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “It is important to correctly use the opportunities provided by WTO membership, to use the allowed mechanisms and procedures to furthest possible extent, including the WTO dispute settlement body,” he said at a conference devoted […]

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Russia subject to 74 trade restrictions in 17 countries – Economic Ministry

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(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 9, 2013) Russia was subject to 74 trade restrictions imposed by 17 countries as of September 1. These included 40 anti-dumping duties, Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexei Likhachev told reporters. Likhachev said anti-dumping proceedings in the EU against Russian goods were particularly noteworthy as the EU disregards the price of gas in Russia and uses its […]

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Russia not hurt by WTO membership, will not revisit terms of accession – official

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(Interfax – August 22, 2013) Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization, the first anniversary of which was on Wednesday, has not had a negative impact on the country’s economy and there are no plans to reconsider the conditions of Russia’s accession to the trade body, the director of trade negotiations at the Economic Development Ministry, Maxim Medvedkov said in […]

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Consumers Feel No Benefit From WTO, Producers Suffer

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Lena Smirnova – August 2, 2013) Russians were promised lower prices when the country joined the World Trade Organization, but one year on prices continue to rise ­ at least for consumers. Increased competition from WTO members is lowering wholesale prices and putting huge pressure on domestic producers, but consumers continue to pay the same […]

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Russian state support system under WTO to be ready in several months – Dvorkovich

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(Interfax – YEKATERINBURG, July 11, 2013) Russia’s system for providing state support in the context of the WTO, which the nation joined last year, will fall into place in the next few months, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said. “In general, it seems to me this system will line up in a few months, and both domestic and foreign producers […]

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WTO entry disappoints, but Russia stays attractive

File Photo of Outdoor Electronic Sign with Russian Exchange Data

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Regina Sadykova, special to RBTH – June 28, 2013) By comparison with other European countries, Russia remains attractive as a business and investment destination. The Association of European Business (AEB) in Russia has presented the results of its annual research project ­ “Strategies and Perspectives of European Companies in Russia”­carried out in conjunction […]

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Opposition Lawmakers Slam WTO Effect

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – June 21, 2013) Opposition lawmakers and businessmen said at a panel Thursday that Russia had lost billions of dollars due to cuts in import tariffs after its accession to the World Trade Organization. The panel was attended by groups lobbying the interests of the engineering, agriculture and clothing industries but was ignored […]

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WTO policy on GMO food fuels fears in Russia

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(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Marina Obrazkova, special to RBTH – June 5, 2013) With GMO products paving their way into Russia, people become concerned with the trend. While some support GMO products, others express their doubts. Russia is gradually starting to fulfil its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). One of these obligations […]

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Russia and the W.T.O.: Equality without Fraternity

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(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Fedor Kikta, special to RBTH – May 15, 2013) Europe’s auto exporters are irked by Russia’s “scrappage tax” amid mounting environmental pressure. When Russia’s record 18-year-long bid to join the World Trade Organization finally concluded successfully last year, one of the last major stumbling blocks concerned car important tariffs. For the last decade […]

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Russian Public Chamber wants more support of exports, agriculture in WTO

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(Interfax – MOSCOW. April 12, 2013) The Russian Audit Chamber has looked into the observance of Russia’s obligations and the realization of Russia’s rights in its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and suggests providing more support for exports and agriculture, the Public Chamber said in a press release. Participants in the Public Chamber collegium held on April 8 […]

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Washington questions Moscow about WTO conflicts

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(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Elena Shipilova, RBTH – April 11, 2013) America seeks an explanation of why Russia’s foreign trade regulations clash with WTO rules. Since 2012, Russia has been operating under both the WTO and the Customs Union. The U.S. is now seeking official clarification on how the two regimes work with each other. Russian officials […]

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TRANSCRIPT: Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s interview with the Brazilian TV network Globo

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(Governent.ru – February 26, 2013) Correspondent (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, thank you very much for finding time for Globo in your schedule. In your recent article in the influential Financial Times, you wrote that Russia should look to the East, to the Asia-Pacific Region. How, looking East, did you wind up in Brazil?  Did you follow Columbus who set […]

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Minister Seeks Extra $1.4Bln in Farm Subsidies

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anatoly Medetsky – February 6, 2013) Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov on Tuesday asked for an additional $1.4 billion in farming subsidies this year, as grain prices are growing and WTO commitments are taking effect. Total federal spending on supporting farmers was initially projected at 158 billion rubles ($5.3 billion) this year. Following a less-than-spectacular crop […]

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Ministers Offered WTO Training

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Roland Oliphant – January 21, 2013) Government ministers were offered a free crash course in WTO rules after one of the country’s most senior financiers savaged officials for failing to understand the organization Russia finally joined last year. Pascal Lamy, the head of the World Trade Organization, said Friday that the group would be willing […]

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WTO provides Russia with pluses for protecting domestic agro market – Russian Agriculture Minister

File Photo of U.S. Dairy Cows

(Interfax – January 21, 2013) Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) brought the country many advantages for protecting the domestic agriculture market, Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov said at a press conference in Berlin. “We view WTO accession as satisfactory and believe that it provides more pluses for protecting the domestic market,” he said. Membership in the international trade […]

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Issue of Russia meeting WTO obligations closed – WTO Director General

(Interfax – January 17, 2013) The question of Russia meeting its obligations to the World Trade Organization is closed, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said Thursday at the Gaidar Forum in Moscow. He said Russia has been a member of the trade body for five months already, so the question of the country meeting its obligations is a thing of […]

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Kremlin Won’t Assume Some WTO Commitments

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – January 17, 2013) Russia will not have to assume many of the commitments to liberalize trade that are approved during the Doha round of World Trade Organization talks, the government’s top trade negotiator said Wednesday, Interfax reported. “Russia would like to see [the Doha round] wrap up as quickly as possible if only for pragmatic […]

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Russia might not commit to liberalizing trade at Doha WTO talks – Medvedkov

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(Interfax – January 16, 2013) Russia, as a country that only recently joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), might not assume many of the commitments to liberalize trade that are approved during the Doha round of talks, Maxim Medvedkov, head of trade negotiations at the Russian Economic Development Ministry, told Interfax. “Russia would like to see [the Doha round] wrap […]

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Russia, EU discussing liberalization of economic ties, impact of Customs Union

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(Interfax – December 19, 2012) The differences between Russia and the European Union in negotiations on a new basic agreement are not insurmountable, Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told Russian reporters in Brussels. “The EU, and it is not hiding this, would like to go further in relations with Russia than the package of conditions on which Russia […]

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State support for Russian agriculture to double despite WTO rules – minister

File Photo of U.S. Dairy Cows

(Interfax – Moscow, 18 December) State support for agriculture will double as part of the new state programme covering the 2013-2020 period. “Whereas under the existing state programme (for 2008-2012 – Interfax) we have been giving agriculture R100bn (3.25bn dollars at the current rate of exchange) a year on average, in the period until 2020 the mean figure of federal […]

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Medvedev Assures France on WTO Behavior

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Irina Filatova – November 28, 2012) Russia and France signed an agreement Tuesday on creating a council to develop economic cooperation amid growing criticism from the European Union of some measures Moscow has introduced to support local manufacturers following accession to the World Trade Organization. A protocol to establish the Business Cooperation Council was signed […]

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NEWSLINK: Russia threatens tough response if U.S. back rights bill

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(Russia threatens tough response if US back rights bill – Reuters – Steve Gutterman – November 15 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/15/russia-usa-idUSL5E8MFA6K20121115) Leading up to House consideration of Congressional legislation impacting trade relations with Russia, and sanctions over human rights issues, Reuters covers Russian warnings: Russia warned the United States on Thursday to expect a tough response if Congress passes “unfriendly and provocative” […]

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Report: No WTO Gains Visible Yet

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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Howard Amos – October 29, 2012) WTO director-general Pascal Lamy and the Russian negotiation team leader Maxim Medvedkov celebrating Russia’s entry into the global trade rules club in August 2012. Accession to the World Trade Organization is generating minimal short-term economic gains for Russia, and the long-term benefits are exaggerated, ING Bank said. Russia’s entry […]

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Russia’s EU Representative: Moscow to honor its WTO commitments

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(Interfax – October 25, 2012) Russia’s entry into the WTO will facilitate trade with the European Union and make it more transparent, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Interfax on Thursday with regard to the European Parliament debate on EU-Russia trade in the context of Russia’s WTO membership. “Naturally, the entry into the WTO, which became […]

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TRANSCRIPT: VTB Capital RUSSIA CALLING! Investment Forum [Putin Remarks with Q&A]

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Kremlin.ru – October 2, 2012 – Moscow The Forum is taking place in Moscow on October 2-4, 2012. Among the main topics for discussion are the strategic priorities of the country’s development in terms of changes in global economic markets, the creation of the Common Economic Space and Russia’s accession to the WTO. The RUSSIA CALLING! Forum has been held […]

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Putin Confirms Russia’s Adherence to WTO Rules

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MOSCOW. Sept 25 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will follow the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) despite the fact that he did not sign the protocol of Russia’s accession to WTO. “Regarding my signing of the WTO accession protocol: I did not sign anything. I worked for Russia’s accession, indeed, we all worked on it, […]

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