OREANDA-NEWS. August 13, 2012. Agrarians and experts have different opinions regarding Russia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). On 21st July the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed the law ratifying the Protocol of Accession of the Russian Federation to Marrakech Agreement on commencing the World Trade Organization of 15th April 1994, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Due to the Russian Federation joining the WTO, the Federal Antimonopoly Service has approved the Action Plan for 2012.

The Action Plan provides for, in particular:

- Enforcement of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” undertaking measures towards supporting certain sectors of the economy in the context of WTO membership,

- Taking into account WTO agreements on subsidies and countervailing measures, as well as an agriculture as part of control over state and municipal preferences,

- Ensuring access to the market of insurance services, taking into account the tariff obligations, undertaken by Russia under WTO framework, in antimonopoly control devising measures on government regulation of foreign trade activities, etc.

Earlier, FAS Expert Council on Agro-Industry discussed “Possible risks and threats for developing competition in agro-industry due to Russia’s ascendance to the World Trade Organization” because, in universal opinion, joining WTO would mostly affect the agro-industry. Representatives of industry unions and organizations, federal executive bodies and independent experts took part in the discussion. Experts shared their concerns with regard to possible adverse consequences that domestic agricultural producers might experience due to opening Russian markets upon joining WTO. According to participants of the agro-industrial market, the main risks and threats are associated with changing customs tariff regulation, as well as limiting state support of agriculture.

The Expert Council drafted a policy brief and presented it to the interested executive bodies, in particular, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry for Economic Development to include expert proposals in the Actions Plans devised by the government agencies in the context of the Russian Federation ascending WTO.

“FAS will take into account expert opinions outlined to the Expert Council in course of drafting proposals aimed at smoothing possible adverse consequences for the agro-industry due to Russia’s participation in WTO and supporting domestic producers. Hopefully, other interested government agencies will use these materials agreeing upon regulatory documentation related to WTO”, pointed out the Acting Head of the FAS Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industry, Irina Yepifanova.