BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/06/2009

Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus consult with WTO on accession

MOSCOW. June 17 (Interfax) - Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan held consultations with World Trade Organization (WTO) members in Geneva on Wednesday about possible format of negotiations between the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan and the WTO on joining the organization, Maxim Medvedkov, the Russian chief negotiator on WTO accession, told Interfax.

"The Russian, Belarusian, and Kazakh delegations had an informal meeting with representatives of about 60 to 70 WTO member-states," Medvedkov said.

The members of the emerging Customs Union informed the WTO member- states about the union and its intention to join the WTO, he said.

"The discussion was quite tough," Medvedkov said.

A number of countries suggested that this move could "significantly slow down the accession process, as there have been no precedents of customs unions' joining the WTO," he said.

In addition, a number of countries pointed out that, in line with the WTO regulations, only customs unions mandated to regulate all trade relations falling under the WTO standards, ,those concerning both goods and services, can negotiate their accession to the organization, he said.

The Customs Union being formed by Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan regulates only trade in goods.

"There was a proposal on putting together a task force to examine how much the Customs Union complies with the WTO regulations," Medvedkov said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/500425/news.aspx

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