All news

Russia’s WTO membership will not affect Customs Union – Glaziev

Russia’s accession to the World Trade organization (WTO) will not affect the activity and viability of the Customs Union

BISHKEK, November 23 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s accession to the World Trade organization (WTO) will not affect the activity and viability of the Customs Union, the executive secretary of the Customs Union, Sergei Glaziev, said in reply to a question from Itar-Tass.

He said the Customs Union was being created in compliance with WTO rules.

“Our union is not the sole one in the world,” he said. “In all, there are about a dozen of them, including those to which WTO member-countries are affiliated.”

“Each of the affiliated countries has the right to participate in economic integration processes,” Glaziev said. “Our union is an integration association of states, which have decided to lift trading barriers and customs control.”

Also, Glaziev remarked that Customs Union rules were in compliance with the WTO requirements.

“We are hoping that this organization (WTO) will recognize the Customs Union, when all member-countries join the WTO,” he said.

In Bishkek, Glaziev is taking part in the ongoing conference of experts devoted to the pros and cons of Kyrgyzstan’s membership of the Customs Union. Kyrgyzstan last spring applied for admission to the Customs Union and a month ago the request was sustained by Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.