June 6, 2009

 

 

Russia must address several issues, including lifting its ban on US pork imports, before the US become an "enthusiastic" supporter of the country's accession into the World Trade Organisation, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Friday (Jun 5).

 

Kirk told journalists after a meeting with Russia's government officials the ban on US meat, which Russia introduced soon after the outbreak of the AH1N1 flu virus, has neither scientific nor international regulation basis.

 

"We continue to hope that Russia will move as soon as possible to reverse the ban," Kirk said on the sidelines of Russia's most significant economic event of the year, the St. Petersburg Forum.

 

Kirk said there has been overall progress in bilateral talks between the US and Russia on the country's accession to WTO, but Russia must also show progress on issues including intellectual property rights and transparency, Kirk said.

 

Russia and the EU agreed Thursday (Jun 4) Russia should become a member of the WTO by the end of the year.

 

Kirk wouldn't say how realistic that goal is but said "the substance and progress of the work will drive the timing of the accession."

 

Alejandro Jara, deputy general-director of the WTO, also said some significant progress has been made recently in negotiations with Russia, but added the country must accept rules that will make all other members "comfortable."

 

"Russia has to do their homework," Jara said during a session on international trade.

 

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin tried to shift the blame away from his country.

 

"Russia is better prepared to join WTO than some of the countries that are already members," Kudrin said during the same session, naming Ukraine and China as examples.

 

Maxim Medvedkov, head of the Russian Delegation on accession negotiations, when asked why Russia hasn't joined the organisation yet, said: "It's a good question. We have been wondering the same for the past 16 years."

 

Kirk said US President Barack Obama's administration is ready to engage Russia at the highest level to resolve outstanding issues, so the world's largest economy outside the WTO could become a member. He said these aren't only legal and technical issues, but also behavioural changes - and the pork ban is an example of such.

 

"It's all now in Russia's hands," he said, referring to the ban issue.