Support The Moscow Times!

Customs Union Still Targets WTO

MINSK — Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which have formed a customs union, are in talks to join the World Trade Organization, guided by agreed positions, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said Monday.

"Nothing has changed since 2009. We confirm now, as we did before, that the WTO is an important strategic goal for us. We have been moving toward this goal in a tactically coordinated way, guided by the actual circumstances," Shuvalov told the press in Minsk on Friday.

"All changes in our tactical maneuvers reflect an agreed and mutually related position, of course. We act on the basis of consensus," Shuvalov said.

A single position has been negotiated and national agencies have been formed in charge of accession to the WTO, and they remain in contact with each other, he said.

"Each time we hold talks at our level, we discuss all aspects of how we should go on further, in advance or afterwards," he also said.

The customs union's commission, which gathered in Minsk, also discussed a plan to form a free-trade zone of the customs union troika and the European Union, Shuvalov said.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

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 every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more