Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs head Alexander Shokin has a dark vision of Ukraine's influence in the WTO.
Photo: Kirill Tulin
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Ukraine Complicates Russian WTO Quest
Ukraine's accession to the WTO may complicate Russia's progress in that organization, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs head Alexander Shokin told journalists. “Of course problems may arise with Ukraine,” Shokin said. “The head start Ukrainian membership has over our membership is big enough for Ukraine to put its two cents into the process, which it will probably do in order to solve problems not directly related to the WTO.”
Ukraine is not required as a member to participate in the admission process for other countries, but it has the right to do so. Shokin predicted that Ukraine would join the working group on Russia's accession because “Ukraine has a lot to demand for Russia.” Shokin and other Russian experts think that Ukraine will make a number of demands of Russia concerning energy.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said that WTO membership would add 1.5-1.7 percent to Ukraine's annual GDP growth. The country now intends to begin negotiations with the European Union on the creation of a free trade zone. On the downside, local entrepreneurs will have a harder time competing with foreign companies now.
Ukraine began the WTO accession process in 1993, a record lengthy time span. Russia began the process in 1995, and began working intensively on it in 2003.
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