Obama Seeks Trade Pact

By The Moscow Times

Feb. 9, 2011

WASHINGTON &mdash The Obama administration will work with Congress "this year to grant Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations, so that U.S. firms and workers fully benefit from Russia's accession to the WTO," U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk told the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.

For U.S. companies to get the tariff cuts Russia will subscribe to, the United States must repeal a Cold War-era law inhibiting full market opening.

Russia is trying to join the WTO by midyear, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina said Dec. 8. U.S. trade with Russia topped $29 billion in the first 11 months of 2010, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.

(Bloomberg)

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue