U.S.: Russia Systematically Violates WTO Rules

The United States is ready to use the tools of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to make the Russian market more open to its products, according to a U.S. Trade Representative Report on the Implementation and Enforcement of Russia’s WTO Commitments, published on the night of February 5. In addition, the report notes that the United States continues to closely monitor Russia's implementation of customs duties.   Russia’s accelerating withdrawal from the market-opening rules of the WTO raises barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services. “If the United States finds that Russia is not acting consistent with its WTO commitments, it will investigate and use all appropriate means to resolve the matter and keep Russia’s markets open to U.S. exports”, says the report. It is noted, that the U.S. has curtailed its bilateral engagement with Russia in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. n addition, according to the authors, Moscow does not assist in requests for private meetings. “In 2018, notwithstanding a few actions taken to comply with its WTO commitments, Russia continued to pursue a regime of import substitution and local content requirements”, says the document. In response, the United States has used, and will continue to use, the tools of the WTO to voice concerns with these practices and to remind Russia of its WTO commitments. “Importing into Russia remains a difficult task”, says the document. The report also condemned the rules for localizing production, taxes, fees, and phytosanitary control. The report also says about the readiness to demand “compulsory actions” in the WTO if necessary. Source: kommersant