Russia to Assess WTO before Presidential Elections

Completing talks on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007 is of the "utmost importance" for Russia so that it becomes a member of the organization before Russian parliamentary and presidential elections, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said 4 April at a 8^th conference of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.

Previously in his interview to Metal Supply & Sales, Maxim Medvedkov, Head of the Russian Negotiators, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, estimated potential benefits for the Russian metallurgical industry of Russia assessing WTO at $1.5 billion.