Russia, Eu To Debate New Steel Export Agreement, November

An acting Russia-EU steel export/import agreement is expiring, December 31, so the Parties will meet at the negotiation table for another agreement, starting next month, announced Russia's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Steel trade arrangements concern not only commercial and other economic links between Russia and the European Union but global commerce, so the agreement will proceed from equal access to the global iron-and-steel market on patterns accepted by the World Trade Organisation, which Russia is expected soon to join, say ministerial experts. There are necessary prospects, too, for multilateral negotiations which will involve all countries represented in the metal market. The acting agreement on trade involving particular steel articles was signed by the Russian government and the European Coal and Steel Community, ECSC, in 1997.