Transparency

The provisions of the WTO Agreement would be applied uniformly throughout the Russian Federation territory, including in regions engaging in frontier traffic, special economic zones and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regulations could be established.

All legislation affecting trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights would be published promptly, consistent with WTO requirements. The Russian Federation would regularly update its official publications including websites and make these laws readily available to WTO members, individuals and enterprises.

To improve access to official publications, the Russian Federation would establish an enquiry point providing assistance to members and all other stakeholders.

In particular, the Russian Federation would publish all legislation, affecting trade in goods, services, or intellectual property rights, prior to their adoption and would provide a reasonable period of time, no less than 30 days, for members to comment, except for emergency cases, national security, monetary policy, measures whose publication would impede law enforcement, be contrary to the public interest, or prejudice the commercial interest of particular public or private enterprises. No legislation affecting trade in goods, services or intellectual property rights would become effective prior to publication.

The Russian Federation would provide annual reports to WTO members on developments in its on-going privatization programme for as long as it would be in existence.

Lists of goods and services subject to state price controls would be published in the Rossiiyskaya Gazeta from the date of accession. Russia would apply price controls on certain products and services, including natural gas, raw diamonds, vodka, water supply services, gas transportation services, baby food, medical goods, public transport services and railway transportation services. Price control measures would not be used for purposes of protecting domestic products, or services provided.

Functioning of the Custom Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus

The Custom Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was created on 1 January 2010. All customs borders were removed between the three countries on 1 July 2011.

From 1 January 2012, the three states would have a single economic space.

The Russian Federation would publish any Custom Union legislation before adoption and would provide a reasonable period of time for WTO members and all stakeholders to comment to the competent Custom Union Body.

Next steps

Members agreed to directly forward Russia’s accession package to the 8th Ministerial Conference for adoption by Ministers on 15-17 December 2011.

Russia should ratify its accession package within 220 days as of the Ministerial decision (until about 22 July 2012).

Thirty days after the notification to the WTO of the ratification, the Russian Federation will become a fully-fledged member.

Background information on the Russian Federation accession process

• The Russian Federation applied to the WTO in June 1993.

• The Working Party was created on 16-17 June 1993.

• The first meeting of the Working Party took place in July 1995.

• The Working Party has met formally 31 times since 1995. Numerous informal meetings also took place.

• Three ambassadors chaired the Working Party: Ambassador William Rossier (Switzerland) from 1995 to 2000, Ambassador Kare Bryn (Norway) from 2000 to 2003 and Ambassador Stefán Jóhannesson (Iceland) from 2003 to 2011.

General statistical information about the Russian Federation (Sources: WTO statistics and World Bank)

Basic indicators

• Population (thousands, 2010): 141 750
• GDP (million current US$, 2010): 1 479 819
• Current account balance (million US$, 2010): 71 129
• Trade per capita (US$, 2008-2010): 5 279
• Trade to GDP ratio (2008-2010): 51.5
• Life expectancy at birth, total (years): 69 (2009)
• Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population): 11.1% (2006)
• Unemployment, total (% of total labour force): 8.2% (2009)
• CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita): 10.8 (2007)

Rank in world trade (2010)

• Merchandise: 12 (exports) and 18 (imports)
• Commercial services: 23 (exports) and 16 (imports)

Merchandise trade (2010)

• Merchandise exports, f.o.b. (million US$): 400 132
• Merchandise imports, f.o.b. (million US$): 248 738
• Main destination of exports: European Union (52.2%), Ukraine (5.8%), Turkey (5.1%), China (5.1%) and Belarus (4.5%)
• Main origin of imports: European Union (38.3%), China (15.7%), Ukraine (5.6%), United States (4.5%) and Japan (4.1%)
• Principal goods traded (exports and imports): agriculture, fuels and mining products, manufactured products
• Share in world total exports: 2.63%
• Share in world total imports: 1.61%

Commercial services trade (2010)

• Commercial services exports (million US$): 43 961
• Commercial services imports (million US$): 70 223
• Principle services traded (exports and imports): Transportation and travel
• Share in world total exports: 1.19%
• Share in world total imports: 2%

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 707