Russia is in a hurry to leave – Kommersant FM – Kommersant
Russia may withdraw from the World Trade Organization. The Foreign Ministry proposed to the State Duma to terminate the agreements with the WTO and WHO, said the vice speaker of the lower house of parliament Petr Tolstoy. The MP added that Russia had already withdrawn from the Council of Europe (CE), and now it is the next step to withdraw from organizations that “neglected all obligations” towards Russia.
According to Tolstoy, it is necessary to revise the treaties that bring the country “without taking advantage of direct damage.” The Russian authorities believe that large-scale sanctions of military operations in Ukraine constitute the system of WTO rules. Economist Andrei Nechaev does not believe that leaving the organization is the right decision: “Here is pure politics – there is no smell of economics here. We have fought for many years to join the WTO, and if we leave this organization, it will be extremely sad from an economic point of view, since we will lose the most favored nation treatment in trade, the consideration of higher rates. We will not be able to use its arbitration for some of our disputes on foreign economic relations. Unfortunately, I don’t see any benefits.
Previously, Russia was deprived of the most favored nation status by the United States and Japan, after which the WTO received the same status from 14 more countries. This means that domestic imports to these states will be subject to higher hormone levels. However, leaving the organization may complicate trade with friendly countries, export director of the Institute of International Economics and Finance of the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade Alexander Knobel: “Most likely, the decision on members or non-members in the WTO will be made by the president. And, in my opinion, Russia favorably remains in the organization, since with India, China, the countries of Southeast Asia, South America, the most favored nation treatment and, in general, WTO rules have been and are still being observed.
At the same time, in trade and economic relations with the EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, they are not observed regardless of whether Russia is a member of the WTO.
With the outcome, including allied states, they will not be limited in any way in trading with the Russian Federation, tax or other offenses, and this will not be a violation of any obligations on their part. there is no alternative organization, almost all the countries of the world in a certain system of trade agreements, then there is no sense in uniting in such actions either.
The bill on the results of Russia from the WTO was submitted to the State Duma in mid-March. The deputies felt that this was necessary to protect the economy and answer the question. However, at that time, the Foreign Ministry did not agree with the proposal and called it a “gift to enemies”, which does not declare dividends for the Russian economy.