Russia: Select Trade & Investment Analyses

In 1993, Russia formally applied for accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT). In 1995, its application was taken up by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the successor organisation of the GATT. Russia is the largest economy not in the WTO; after a number of fits and starts during the 18-year process, the then-153 members of the WTO, on December 16, 2011, invited Russia to join the WTO during the Ministerial Conference in Geneva. On July 10 and July 18, 2012, respectively, the lower house of the Russian parliament – the State Duma – and the upper house – the Federal Council – approved the protocol of accession. President Putin signed the measure into law on July 21, allowing Russia to formally join the WTO on August 22. The immediate policy issue for Congress was whether to enact legislation authorising the President to grant permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status for Russia, a status that all WTO members are required to provide each other. Some Members of Congress viewed congressional consideration of PNTR legislation as the opportunity to ensure that the conditions on which Russia is invited to join the WTO reflected U.S. concerns and that Russia fulfil its commitments. This book examines Russian select trade and investment analyses, with a focus on Russia’s accession to the WTO; Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for Russia and U.S.-Russian economic ties; recent sales of military equipment and technology to European NATO allies to Russia; and a Russian 2013 investment climate analysis.