Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on Russia’s Progress toward WTO Membership

Today, the World Trade Organization accepted terms and conditions for Russia’s membership in the WTO. This achievement marked the conclusion of years of discussion and months of intensive negotiations. It signals the resolution of complicated trade and political issues and, in particular, agreement on customs concerns that the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation signed earlier this week. The next step is for the WTO to extend a formal invitation of membership to Russia, which it will likely do at a meeting scheduled for December 15. I congratulate the people of Russia and I commend the dedicated labor of public servants of many nations that brought about the accession process to this point.

This excellent news for the United States and for Russia’s other WTO trading partners. Russian membership will mean lower tariffs for U.S. exports and it will mean jobs: jobs to manufacture, to sell, and to market U.S. goods. WTO membership, among other things, also conveys Russia’s commitment to conduct trade in accordance with international norms and business practices.

The responsibility now moves to Congress to ensure that U.S. business can take advantage of the benefits that Russia’s WTO membership conveys. In my capacity as co-chair of the Caucus on U.S.-Russian Trade and Economic Relations, I will make sure that my c colleagues have access to information about these issues. As a Member of Congress and representative of New York, I will lead the way to lifting application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment and authorize the President to confer PNTR for Russia.