Russia Rejecting Belarus-Kazakhstan Joint Bid to WTO

Post by Bryan Kozik, Great Decisions student

In June 2009, both Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev of Russia publicly discussed the likelihood of Russia’s joint bid to join the World Trade Organization with Belarus and Kazakhstan. This bid would be the result of a proposed customs union between the three states. This union’s first stage took effect on 1 January, and is planned to be complete by 1 July 2011.

Russia has debated joining the WTO since the fall of the Soviet Union. This most recent plan, which was surprising to world leaders and unlikely at its inception due to WTO regulations, has proved to be an idea that both Russian politicians and WTO leaders would like to rescind. Russia, though still committed to the customs union, is likely to join the WTO individually by the beginning of next year.
President Medvedev and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov agree that the necessary measures that need to be taken to join the WTO, such as lowering certain customs duties, are not likely to happen quickly. They also agree that they expect the United States to put substantial effort towards facilitating Russia’s process.

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