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

(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 said the system of state support of Russian exports “is considerably behind the foreign analogues in terms of scale and effectiveness.”

“The meeting’s participants pointed out the need to expand the state support of agriculture relating to the ‘green basket’ and the use of the available reserve in terms of the use of state support within the ‘yellow basket,'” the report says.

The Public Chamber also pointed out that regulations on the foundation of Russia’s permanent representation in the WTO have still not been adopted and appropriate funding for its creation and activities is not envisioned in the 2013 federal budget and the planned 2014 and 2015 periods. No decision has been made on the sources of financing of the legal support of Russia’s participation in the work of the WTO body for resolving trade disputes either.

The collegium participants said the federal executive bodies have done considerable work on adapting industries to the new conditions of Russia’s membership in the WTO. “However, not all planned events are fulfilled within the established periods and the problems existing here have not been resolved in full,” the Public Chamber said.

The materials presented at the collegium meeting also addressed unresolved problems relating to the adaptation of the Russian regions to the conditions of Russia’s membership in the WTO.