Vice-president of US-Russia business council on granting of market economy status to Russia

The decision to grant the market economy status to Russia is another step towards further improvement of Russian-US relations.

This view was voiced in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti by executive vice-president of the US-Russia Business Council (USRBC) Blake Marshall.

To the best of my memory, trade and economic relations between our countries have never been so strong, the member of the USRBC leadership noted. Marshall also pointed out that the US-Russia Business Council considers this decision to be a major milestone on the long and difficult road of Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation. It is a very significant step, and we welcome this decision of the US Department of Commerce, he emphasized.

According to Marshall, the USRBC holds the view that it is recognition of the unprecedented economic changes in Russia. Marshall pointed out that the Council's leadership also believes that Russian exporters will be able to immediately start taking advantage of the equal terms in trade which they have achieved.