After 18 years of negotiations, on 16 December 2011, Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) accepted the terms of the Russian Federation’s accession. Russia will officially become a WTO Member 30 days following the ratification of its Protocol of Accession, which will take place before 15 June 2012.

Russia’s WTO accession commitments and its adherence to WTO rules will provide a “rule book” for trading goods and services with Russia, for protecting intellectual property, and for settling international trade disputes. The “rule book” consists of all WTO agreements as well as the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO. The Working Party Report includes a discussion of Russia’s trade and investment regime and sets out binding commitments to follow WTO rules and additional commitments on all issues affecting international trade. Russia will also benefit from being a Member of the Organization because it will have predictable access to over 150 markets in accordance with WTO rules.