USTR Kirk Welcomes Bilateral Resolution of Key WTO Issues with Russia

View the text of U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's October 1 press release, in which he welcomed bilateral resolutions of issues that need to be addressed in the terms for the Russian Federation's accession to the WTO. The press release noted that the United States and Russia have reached agreement on the substance of a number of Russian commitments that should be reflected in the final terms for its accession. These commitments relate to areas of particular importance to U.S. trade policy interests, such as IPR, government procurement, and transparency in the decision-making process on trade-related issues. In addition, the Russian Federation has enacted amendments to laws related to the protection of IPR, to reflect relevant WTO requirements and earlier commitments made to the United States on IPR.