Russia at WTO conference foils opponents’ attempts to legalize trade barriers — minister
Maxim Reshetnikov also pointed out that such attempts are likely to continue
ABU DHABI, March 2. /TASS/. Russia at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which ended in Abu Dhabi, foiled its opponents' attempts to legalize the use of trade barriers under the pretext of implementing climate and environmental policies, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said.
"As for the general ministerial statement - we consider our tasks fulfilled. We have not allowed the attempts of our opponents to legalize the use of trade barriers under the slogans of climate and environmental policy," he told reporters after the conference.
Reshetnikov also pointed out that such attempts are likely to continue. "Obviously, in the next two years this issue will become one of the main lines of tension in Geneva," the minister added.
The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's highest decision-making body and is usually held every two years. The 13th Ministerial Conference opened on Monday in Abu Dhabi under the chairmanship of Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. The Russian delegation to the conference was headed by Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.