Russia continues consultations on joining WTO - 26 September, 2002

Russia is launching another round of consultations Thursday on agriculture-related issues as part of the negotiations on joining the WTO, reported Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

About 30 WTO members, including the USA, the EU and the Kern Group countries - all leading exporters of agricultural products - have shown interest in conducting agriculture-related talks with Russia.

The Russian side finds it most difficult to reach a compromise with the Kern Group countries which insist on a sharp reduction of state support for Russia's agrarian sector.

At the same time, Russia will stick to its stance saying that the current level of state support for the agrarian sector does not run counter to the WTO standards, sources in the Russian Trade Ministry reported.