Russia officially joins WTO

Today Russia officially joined World Trade Organization (WTO) becoming its 156th member. Membership process lasted for 17 years. Negotiations were held within the scopes of a working group, where representatives of countries which have unsolved trade problems with RF were included. The most difficult were negotiations with Georgia, EU and the USA, reports Vesti.ru. Membership issue has finally been resolved on December 16, 2011 at the WTO minister conference held in Geneva, where Russia’s membership to WTO was approved unanimously.
Russia’s membership to WTO was supported by Russian economical public, but this idea has also its opponents. Ministry of Economics states, that Russia’s membership to this organization first of all presupposes stability of working conditions in foreign markets, as well as Russia’s participation possibility in formulation of regulations of international economical cooperation.