Global General

Russia to join WTO within a year: US

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-20 14:58

MOSCOW - US President Barack Obama's senior economic adviser says Russia will join the World Trade Organization within the next 12 months.

Related readings:  US says Russia 'closer than ever' to WTO  WTO warns against US possible trade protectionism measures  WTO chief wants G20 push on global trade deal  Trade office back to handle WTO disputes

Lawrence Summers, the director of Obama's National Economic Council, said at a briefing Wednesday the objections of US ally Georgia, which fought a war with Russia in 2008, will not impact US support for Russia's entry into the organization.

Summers said that Russia's quotas on US meat imports is one of the outstanding issues that will need to be addressed.

After 17 years of negotiations, Russia is still by far the largest economy outside the WTO, which regulates trade between its 153 member states.