Putin instructed to revise Russia's strategy in the WTO

The President also instructed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the measures taken by WTO members in relation to Russia,for compliance with the principles of the organization

President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to analyze the restrictions adopted against Russia by the countries participating in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and submit proposals for updating the strategy for the country's participation in the organization, according to the Kremlin website.

“The Russian government should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the measures taken by the member states of the World Trade Organization in 2022 to restrict trade with Russia in terms of their compliance with the rules and principles of this organization,” follows from the list of instructions of the head of state following the meeting on the development of the metallurgical complex.

In addition, Putin instructed the Cabinet of Ministers "to submit proposals for Russia to challenge such measures within the framework of the organization, as well as to update the strategy for Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization."

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Russia joined the WTO in 2012. Against the background of the military operation in Ukraine in mid-March, the WTO received a statement from 14 members of the organization to deprive Russia of the most favored nation treatment in trade.

In response, the Russian representation at the WTO warned of the dangers to the multilateral trading system due to "aggressive and politically motivated" trade restrictions. The mission also accused Western countries of trying to undermine the Russian economy through sanctions. The Foreign Ministry considered Russia's withdrawal from the WTO "a gift to enemies."

Most favored nation treatment is a key principle of the WTO, which implies that when trading with a particular state, member countries enjoy the same privileges. The absence of this status for a country means that any customs duties can be set for it. WTO rules do not provide for the direct possibility of exclusion of states, but do not prohibit the withdrawal of the most favored nation treatment.

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On March 21, the deputies of A Just Russia - For Truth submitted a draft law on Russia's withdrawal from the WTO to the State Duma. As its authors pointed out, since 2014, due to the deterioration of relations with the European Union, the United States and other countries, Russia's advantages in the organization began to decline.

Nevertheless, on May 17, the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy proposed that the bill be returned to the authors. The committee pointed out that the authors did not attach a government opinion to the document. They also explained that the decision to withdraw Russia from the WTO would allow other member countries to impose increased duties on the export of Russian goods.

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In March, Russia left the Council of Europe, in April the UN Human Rights Council, the UN World Tourism Organization, and in May the Council of the Baltic Sea States.