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Andriy Honcharuk: The prospects of WTO membership are unclear
22.11.2006, 15:04
The Ukrainian Prime Minister's advisor Andriy Honcharuk, the former minister of foreign economic relations and trade, comments on Ukraine's prospects for accedence to the WTO.
On November 18, 2006, during the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forum in Hanoi (Vietnam), there was a signing of the bilateral protocol between the Russian Federation and the U.S. in the framework of Russia's accedence to the WTO. The protocol was signed by the Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, German Gref and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Shwab. A day earlier, on November 17, 2006, also a bilateral protocol between the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka was signed.
As of today, Russia has signed bilateral protocols on access to markets of goods and services practically with all key member countries of the Working Group.
In the bilateral talks on Russia's accedence to the WTO, in fact, only some issues with Georgia and Moldova remain unsettled. However, even official representatives of these countries say that most requirements of Georgia and Moldova lie beyond WTO rules.
Taking into account the fact that earlier there was closer cooperation between the Russian Government and the Russian State Duma than between the former Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers and Verkhovna Rada, it was easier for Russia to conform its national legislation to WTO norms and requirements.
In view of the fact that Russia began discussions on its report on WTO entry at the sessions of the Working Group way back in 2002, it should be expected that its final version is practically ready, and, provided that some problems with the Working Group members are solved, it may be voted in the nearest time.
Certainly Russia faces some problematic issues, which it prefers not to discuss in public, such as the talks on the level of its domestic support for agriculture, and so forth. That is to say, these are the same problems facing Ukraine in its bid for WTO membership.
Ukraine has yet to adopt some draft laws, which would adapt the Ukrainian legislation to WTO norms and requirements; technically complete talks with Taiwan; and solve the issue of bilateral talks with Kyrgyzstan, which unfortunately are showing no sign of progress.
In general, my earlier assessment was that Ukraine was closer to the WTO than Russia, however, now the Russian Federation is ahead of Ukraine in making progress towards WTO membership. | |
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