U.S. demands set back Russia’s WTO bid – Putin

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin vented his
frustration on Wednesday at the slow progress of Russia’s talks
to join the World Trade Organization, saying new demands put by
the United States had set the process back.

“We have received a list of questions from our American
colleagues requiring additional agreement which we considered
settled long ago,” Putin told a Kremlin meeting with Russian
business leaders.

Putin added that the U.S. move “artificially pushes back
the course of negotiating process.”

Russia is the largest economy outside the 149-member WTO
and its negotiators hope to wrap up entry talks — under way
for 13 years — during its inaugural presidency this year of
the Group of Eight powerful nations.

Moscow has struck bilateral deals with all of the WTO’s
existing members except for the United States, Australia and
Colombia.

Talks with Washington have snagged on U.S. calls for Russia
to open up its financial services sector and stamp out video
and software piracy.

Discussions last week in Geneva made little headway on a
comprehensive entry deal, a final hurdle which requires the
backing of all of the WTO’s existing members before Russia can
join the trade club.