Where is the WTO headquarters located? World Trade Organization - History of Creation. Structure. Main functions. Benefits for countries with a low level of development

World Trade Organization (WTO) - international body, exercising supervisory functions in the field of world trade. The organization, which is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which has been in force since 1947, began its activities on January 1, 1995.

The main goal of the WTO is the liberalization of world trade and the provision of fair conditions for competition.

The headquarters of the WTO is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

WTO head ( CEO) — Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo.

What are the functions of the WTO?

The most important functions of the WTO are:

• control over the implementation of agreements and agreements of the package of documents of the Uruguay Round;
• conducting multilateral trade negotiations between interested member countries;
• resolution of trade disputes;
• monitoring the national trade policy of member countries;
• cooperation with international specialized organizations.

What are the benefits of WTO membership?

• obtaining more favorable conditions for access to world markets for goods and services;
• access to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, which ensures the protection of national interests in case they are infringed by partners.

How can one become a member of the WTO?

The WTO accession procedure consists of several stages. This process takes an average of 5-7 years.

At the first stage, within the framework of special working groups, a detailed examination of the economic mechanism and the trade and political regime of the acceding country is carried out for their compliance with the norms and rules of the WTO.

After that, consultations and negotiations begin on the conditions for the applicant country's membership in this organization. These consultations, as a rule, are held at the bilateral level with all interested member countries of the working group. During the negotiations, their participants discuss the concessions that the acceding country will be ready to make in order to provide WTO members with access to its markets. In turn, the acceding country, as a rule, receives the rights that all other WTO members have.

When did Russia become a WTO member?

Negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO lasted 18 years. Since August 22, 2012, she has become a full member of the organization of the Russian Federation. The most difficult were the negotiations with the US and the European Union. In particular, for a long time it was not possible to resolve issues with Washington on access to the Russian market of American pork and on the protection of intellectual property rights, with the EU - on export duties on timber, on agriculture, on the conditions for the industrial assembly of cars on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) was founded in 1995. It is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), concluded immediately after the Second World War.

In 1998, the Golden Jubilee of GATT was celebrated in Geneva. This system is designed to regulate world trade through the mechanism of deterring unilateral actions, existed for almost 50 years and proved its effectiveness as a legal basis for multilateral trade. The years after World War II were marked by an exceptional growth in world trade. The growth of exports of goods averaged 6% per year. Total trade in 1997 was 14 times the 1950 level.

The system evolved in the process of conducting a series of trade negotiations (rounds) within the framework of the GATT. The first rounds focused on tariff cuts, but later the talks expanded to other areas such as anti-dumping and non-tariff measures. The last round - 1986-1994, the so-called. The Uruguay Round led to the creation of the WTO, which greatly expanded the scope of the GATT to include trade in services and trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights.

Thus, the GATT mechanism has been improved and adapted to the current stage of trade development. In addition, the GATT system, while actually being an international organization, was not formally one.

Structure of the WTO

The WTO is both an organization and at the same time a set of legal documents, a kind of multilateral trade agreement that defines the rights and obligations of governments in the field of international trade in goods and services. The legal basis of the WTO is the General Agreement on Trade in Goods (GATT) as amended in 1994 (GATT-1994), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The WTO agreements have been ratified by the parliaments of all participating countries.

"The main tasks of the WTO are the liberalization of international trade, ensuring its fairness and predictability, promoting economic growth and improving the economic well-being of people. The WTO member countries, of which there were 148 as of May 2005, solve these problems by monitoring the implementation of multilateral agreements, conducting trade negotiations, settlement of trade in accordance with the WTO mechanism, as well as assistance to developing countries and review of the national economic policies of states.

Decisions are made by all member states, usually by consensus, which is an additional incentive to strengthen agreement in the ranks of the WTO. Decision-making by a majority of votes is also possible, but there has not been such a practice in the WTO yet; within the work of the predecessor of the WTO, GATT, such isolated cases occurred.

Decisions at the highest level in the WTO are made by the Ministerial Conference, which meets at least once every two years. The first conference in Singapore in December 1996 confirmed the course of the participating countries towards trade liberalization and added to the existing organizational structure The WTO has three new working groups dealing with the relationship between trade and investment, the interaction between trade and competition policy, and transparency in public procurement. The second conference, held in 1998 in Geneva, was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the GATT/WTO; in addition, WTO members agreed to study the issues of global electronic commerce. The third conference, which was convened in December 1999 in Seattle (USA) and was supposed to decide on the start of a new round of trade negotiations, ended in fact without results. The next Ministerial Conference is to be held in November 2001 in Doha (Qatar).

Subordinate to the Ministerial Conference is the General Council, which is responsible for the execution of day-to-day work and meets several times a year at its headquarters in Geneva, consisting of representatives of WTO members, usually ambassadors and heads of delegations of member countries. The General Council also has two special bodies: for the analysis of trade policy and for the resolution of disputes. In addition, committees on trade and development report to the General Council; on the restrictions associated with trade balance; budget, finance and administration.

The General Council delegates functions to three councils at the next level of the WTO hierarchy: the Council for Trade in Goods, the Council for Trade in Services and the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

The Council for Trade in Goods, in turn, manages the activities of specialized committees that monitor compliance with the principles of the WTO and the implementation of the GATT-1994 agreements in the field of trade in goods.

The Council for Trade in Services oversees the implementation of the GATS agreement. It includes the Financial Services Trading Committee and the Professional Services Working Group.

The Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, in addition to monitoring the implementation of the relevant agreement (TRIPS), also deals with the prevention of conflicts related to the international trade in counterfeit goods.

Numerous specialized committees and working groups deal with individual agreements of the WTO system and issues in areas such as the protection environment, problems of developing countries, WTO accession procedure and regional trade agreements.

The WTO Secretariat, which is based in Geneva, has about 500 full-time employees; it is headed by a general manager. The WTO Secretariat, unlike similar bodies of other international organizations, does not make decisions, since this function is entrusted to the member countries themselves. The main responsibilities of the Secretariat are to provide technical support to various councils and committees, as well as to the Ministerial Conference, provide technical assistance to developing countries, analyze world trade, and explain WTO provisions to the public and the media. The Secretariat also provides some form of legal assistance in the dispute resolution process and advises governments of countries wishing to become members of the WTO. To date, there are more than twenty such countries.

Basic agreements and principles of the WTO

WTO member countries interact within the framework of a non-discriminatory trading system, where each country receives guarantees of a fair and consistent treatment of its exports in the markets of other countries, pledging to provide the same conditions for imports to its own market. There is comparatively greater flexibility and freedom of action in the fulfillment of obligations by developing countries.

The basic rules and principles of the WTO are reflected in multilateral trade agreements that affect trade in goods and services, as well as trade aspects of intellectual property rights, dispute resolution and the trade policy review mechanism.

Goods. The key principles of the WTO were first formulated in the 1947 GATT. From 1947 to 1994, GATT provided a forum for negotiating reductions in customs duties and other trade barriers; the text of the General Agreement stipulated important rules in particular non-discrimination. Subsequently, as a result of the negotiations of the Uruguay Round (1986-1994), the basic principles were expanded and developed and clarified in other agreements. Thus, new rules were created on trade in services, on important aspects of intellectual property, on dispute resolution and trade policy reviews.

The GATT, as revised in 1994, is now the WTO's main set of rules for trade in goods. It is complemented by agreements covering specific sectors such as agriculture and textiles, as well as individual topics such as government trade, product standards, subsidies and anti-dumping action.

The two fundamental principles of GATT are non-discrimination and market access.

The principle of non-discrimination is implemented through the application of the most favored nation (MFN) regime, in which the country provides the same trading conditions for all WTO members, and national treatment, in which imported goods cannot be discriminated against in the domestic market.

Market access is ensured, in addition to the application of the MFN and national treatment, also through the elimination of quantitative restrictions on imports in favor of customs tariffs, which are more effective tool regulation of trade, as well as publicity and transparency in matters of trade regimes of the participating countries.

Services. Principles for freer exports and imports of services, regardless of the mode of supply, be it cross-border trade, consumption of services abroad, commercial presence or presence individuals, - were first documented in the new General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). However, due to the specifics of trade in services, most favored nation treatment and national treatment are applied here with significant exceptions that are individual for each country. Similarly, the abolition of quantitative quotas is selective and decisions are taken in the course of negotiations.

WTO members make individual commitments under the GATS, in which they declare which service sectors and to what extent they are willing to open to foreign competition.

Intellectual property. The WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is a set of rules on trade and investment in ideas and creativity that stipulates how intellectual property must be protected in trade transactions. "Intellectual Property" refers to copyright, trade marks, geographical names used to name goods, industrial samples (designs), topologies integrated circuits and undisclosed information such as trade secrets.

Dispute resolution. The Agreement on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes provides for the establishment of a system in which countries could settle their differences through consultations. Failing that, they can follow a well-established step-by-step process that provides for the possibility of adjudication by a panel of experts and the possibility of appealing these decisions with appropriate legal justification. The credibility of this system is evidenced by the number of disputes that were submitted to the WTO: 167 cases by March 1999 compared to 300 cases that were considered during the entire period of the GATT (1947-94)

Policy Review. The purpose of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism is to increase transparency, to explain the trade policies of certain countries, and to assess the consequences of their implementation. The policies of all WTO members are subject to regular “review”; each review contains reports from the respective country and the WTO Secretariat. Since 1995, the policies of 45 member countries have been reviewed.

Benefits of the WTO trading system

The advantages of the WTO system are proved not only by the fact that virtually all major trading nations are now members. In addition to purely economic benefits, which are achieved by lowering barriers to free exchange of goods, this system has a positive effect on the political and social situation in the member countries, as well as on the individual well-being of citizens. The benefits of the WTO trading system are manifested at all levels - the individual citizen, the country and the world community as a whole.

WTO Benefits for Consumers

Lowering the cost of living. The most obvious consumer benefit of free trade is the reduction in the cost of living by lowering protectionist trade barriers. In the 50 years of the organization's existence, eight rounds of negotiations have been held, and this moment Trade barriers around the world are lower than they have ever been in the history of modern trade.

As a result of the reduction of trade barriers, not only finished imported goods and services become cheaper, but also domestic products, in the production of which imported components are used.

Import tariffs, government production subsidies (for example, in agriculture) and quantitative restrictions on imports (for example, in the textile trade) ultimately lead not to the desired results of protecting the domestic market, but to increasing the cost of living. Thus, consumers in the UK, according to statistical calculations, pay 500 million pounds a year more for clothes due to trade restrictions on textile imports; for Canadians, this amount is approximately CAD 780 million. The situation is similar in the services sector: the liberalization of the telecommunications sector in the European Union has led to a reduction in prices by an average of 7-10 percent.

The WTO system encourages competition and lowers trade barriers, with the result that consumers benefit. Thus, a major reform of trade in textiles and clothing under the WTO, which will be completed in 2005, includes the removal of restrictions on the volume of imports.

Wider selection of goods and services.

A wider choice of goods and services is also an undoubted advantage of a free trading system for the consumer. In addition to finished foreign products, we are talking about domestic goods and services, the range of which is expanding due to lower prices for imported materials, components and equipment. Import competition stimulates the most efficient domestic production and, consequently, indirectly reduces prices and improves the quality of products.

In addition, as a result of more active exchange of goods, new technologies are developing, as happened, for example, with mobile communications.

An increase in the export of domestic products also increases the income of producers, tax revenues to the treasury and, consequently, the income and well-being of the population as a whole.

Benefits of the WTO for the country's economy as a whole

economic benefits.

Increase in income.

It is impossible to draw a clear line between the impact of free trade on consumers, producers and the state. Thus, the lowering of trade barriers encourages trade growth, which leads to an increase in both government and private incomes. Empirical evidence suggests that after the Uruguay Round, as a result of the transition to new system trade deals, global revenue increased from $109 billion to $510 billion. Single market in the territory European Union also contributed to increased income and well-being.

Increasing government revenue from successful exporters can redistribute the additional resources they receive and help other companies facing foreign competition to increase productivity, scale up production, improve their competitiveness, or switch to new activities.

Increasing employment.

The development of trade leads in the long run to increased employment, especially in the export sectors of the economy. However, in the short term, job losses as a result of the competition of domestic enterprises with foreign manufacturers are almost inevitable.

Protectionism cannot solve this problem. On the contrary, an increase in trade barriers causes a decrease in the efficiency of production and the quality of domestic products, which, if imports are limited, leads to an increase in prices for them and negatively affects sales volumes, and ultimately the number of jobs. A similar situation developed, for example, in the United States in the 1980s, when severe restrictions were imposed on the import of Japanese cars. Conversely, EU market liberalization has created at least 300,000 new jobs in the Community countries. The US export industries employ at least 12 million workers; in the metallurgy of Russia, out of about 1 million employed, 600 thousand also work for export.

A prudent use of safeguards and an effective scheme for redistributing additional government revenue can help a country overcome the difficulties of adjusting to a free trade system.

Improving the efficiency of foreign economic activity.

The application of the principles of the WTO makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the state's foreign economic activity by, first of all, simplifying the system of customs duties and other trade barriers. As a result, the predictability and transparency of the economy attract partners and increase trade. Non-discriminatory approach, transparency, greater certainty of trade conditions and their simplification - all this contributes to lowering the costs of companies, streamlining their activities and creating a favorable climate for trade and investment.

In turn, the inflow of capital into the country, in particular in the form of foreign direct investment, creates additional jobs and improves the well-being of the population as a whole.

political benefits.

In addition to economic benefits from freer foreign trade, the state also receives certain political benefits.

Lobbying protection.

The government is more able to protect itself from the actions of lobbying groups, since trade policy is carried out in the interests of the economy as a whole.

The policy of protectionism pursued by the state for certain industries implies a certain political influence of representatives of these spheres of production. In the early decades of the 20th century, the intensification of trade restrictive policies led to a trade war that had no winners, because in the end, even sectors that needed protection would suffer from such restrictions, economic growth would slow down, and general welfare would decline.

Accession to the WTO system helps to avoid such situations, since the policy pursued by the state is focused on the development of all sectors of the economy, and not its individual parts, which helps to avoid distortions in the competitive environment.

Fight against corruption.

The free trade system also creates the prerequisites for making sound political decisions, fighting corruption and bringing positive changes to the legislative system, which ultimately contributes to the flow of investment into the country. The application of some forms of non-tariff restrictions, for example, import quotas, is inevitably associated with the risk of corruption among the officials who distribute these quotas and, consequently, of excessive profits for importing companies - the so-called. "quota rent". The WTO is now working to reduce and eliminate many of the remaining quotas, especially for textiles.

Transparency and publicity, i.e. ensuring that all information on trade rules is available to the public; clearer criteria for regulations covering safety and product standards; the application of the principle of non-discrimination also has a positive impact on the political environment, reducing the possibility of arbitrary decision-making and deceit.

Benefits of the WTO system for relations between countries

Ensuring equal chances for all participants.

The WTO system levels the playing field for all members by giving voting rights to small countries, thus limiting the economic dictates of larger states that would be inevitable in bilateral negotiations. Moreover, by uniting in alliances, small countries are able to achieve greater success in negotiations. At the same time, large member states are freed from the need to negotiate trade agreements with each of their many trading partners, since, according to the principle of non-discrimination, the levels of obligations reached during the negotiations automatically apply to all WTO members.

An effective dispute resolution mechanism.

The WTO system provides an effective mechanism for resolving trade disputes that, if left to their own devices, could lead to serious conflict. Before the Second World War, this was not possible. After the war, the trading countries negotiated the rules of trade that are now in effect under the WTO. These include commitments to take their disputes to the WTO and not to take unilateral action.

Each dispute submitted to the WTO is considered primarily from the point of view of current regulations and rules. Once a decision is made, countries focus their efforts on its implementation, and possibly subsequent revision of the rules and regulations through negotiations. Since the creation of the WTO in 1995, about 200 disputes have been brought to its attention. The WTO agreements provide the legal basis for a clear decision.

The increasing number of disputes being submitted to the WTO does not indicate an increase in tension in the world, but rather the strengthening of economic ties and the increasing confidence of countries in this system of resolving disputes.

Strengthening international stability.

The WTO trading system facilitates the smooth conduct of trade and provides countries with a constructive and fair mechanism for resolving trade disputes, thus creating and strengthening international stability and cooperation.

A prime example of the impact of trade on international security is the trade war of the 1930s, when countries competed to erect protectionist trade barriers. This exacerbated the Great Depression and ultimately played a role in the outbreak of World War II.

A recurrence of pre-war trade tensions after World War II in Europe was avoided through the development international cooperation on trade in coal and ferrous metals within the framework of the European Coal and Steel Community, which served as the basis for the creation of the future European Union. On a global scale, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was established, which was transformed in 1995 into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The system has proved its viability, because political conflict between countries with established stable trade relations is less likely. In addition, people who are more affluent and prosperous tend to be less prone to conflict.

The GATT/WTO system, in which agreements are negotiated by consensus and the rules of agreements are strictly followed, is also an important tool for building confidence. When a government is confident that other countries will not raise their trade barriers, it is not tempted to do the same. States will also be much more willing to cooperate with each other, and this will avoid situations like the trade war of the 1930s.

An association of participating countries interested in the liberalization of international trade, the elimination of market barriers, and the creation of a favorable trade and political climate.

The WTO was founded in 1995 and is the legal successor of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, founded in 1947. The World Trade Organization pursues the goal of liberalizing world trade, regulates it by tariff methods by reducing existing barriers, restrictions, import duties.

The WTO monitors the implementation of trade agreements between the members of the organization, ensures the conduct of negotiations between them, resolves disputes that arise, and monitors the situation on the international market. The head office of the WTO is based in Geneva, the staff exceeds 630 people.

WTO members today are 164 countries, 161 of them are recognized states. Russia joined the World Trade Organization on August 22, 2012, becoming the 156th member. Earlier, other countries of the post-Soviet space were included in the list of participants - Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Armenia, Ukraine.

Principles and rules

The task of creating and functioning of the World Trade Organization is free trade at the international level. The work of the WTO is guided by the following principles:

• all participating countries have the same rights. Preferences set for one WTO member apply to other members;
• the activities of the participants are transparent, countries must prepare and print reports to familiarize other WTO members with the rules they have established;
• participants must fulfill obligations in the field trade tariffs established by the organization rather than developed independently.

The WTO Agreement allows the members of the organization to take measures aimed at the conservation of the animal and flora, health and environmental protection. When establishing trade restrictions, the disadvantaged party may insist on commensurate compensation in another sector of the economy, for example, on special concessions.

Structure

The WTO has a branched structure, due to a number of tasks that need to be addressed in the international market:

• Ministerial Conference - supreme body Association, convened at least once every 2 years.
• The General Council of the WTO - performs a leadership role, controls the work of other departments.
• GATT Council - determines the relationship of participants in the field of trade in goods.
• Trade Services Council.
• Advice on legal matters and the protection of individual property.
• Dispute Resolution Body - Provides fair and impartial conflict resolution at the international level.

The WTO includes representative bodies of countries with developing economies, a committee on budget policy and information, which are subordinate to the General Council.

On August 22, 2012 Russia became a memberWorld Trade Orga downgrading (TO) . Negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO lasted almost 20 years: from 1993 to 2011. 18 years is an absolute record for the duration of negotiations. Even Chinese People's Republic sought WTO membership for less than 15 years.

The essence of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international non-profit association that regulates member countries. It has been in force since January 1, 1995 and is the legal successor of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that has been in operation since 1947. The creation of the WTO was determined by a multilateral agreement during the Uruguay Round of GATT (1986-1994). Performs the following functions:

control over the execution of trade agreements of member countries;

organization and provision of negotiations between member countries;

monitoring the trade policy of member countries;

resolution of trade disputes between member countries.

Russia's accession to the WTO

History of Russia's accession to the WTO

Russia applied for accession to the WTO back in 1993. The negotiation process began in 1995, but for the first three years it was of a consultative nature and was limited to Russia providing data on its economy and foreign trade regime, that is, in areas regulated by the WTO. At this stage Russian representatives answered more than 3,000 questions from the Working Group and submitted hundreds of papers for consideration.

The most difficult negotiations were with the US and China. Differences with the European Union were resolved after Russia supported Kyoto protocol. The most difficult were the negotiations with the United States, which lasted for six years. The main disagreements concerned the issues of financial markets, the supply of agricultural products to the Russian Federation and the protection of intellectual property rights. Russia and the United States signed a protocol on Russia's accession to the WTO on November 20, 2006. The signing took place within the framework of the session of the Asia-Pacific Forum in Hanoi (Vietnam).

The terms of entry were repeatedly postponed: 2003, 2006, then 2007 was indicated as the final date. After the success of 2010, when differences with the US and the EU were resolved, it was announced that Russia would become a member of the WTO in 2011.

Conditions for Russia's accession to the WTO

In December 2006, detailed preliminary information on the main results of the negotiations was published, which provides both information on the most important commodity items and consolidated data on the rest. The results for November 2011 for all thousands of positions are published in English on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development . Prior to this, negotiations were conducted behind closed doors, which is said to be a common practice for negotiations on economic issues, including the WTO. According to these data, during the first year after accession, not a single foreign trade duty will be reduced. By different groups goods provided for transitional periods from 1 year to 7 years; within 7 years, duties on industrial goods will decrease from 11.1% to 8.2% on average. Customs duties on consumer goods that are mass-produced in Russia will hardly decrease (with the exception of cars and shoes). At the same time, duties on computers and element base will be abolished, duties on consumer electronics and electrical engineering, drugs, technological and scientific equipment. The state will be able to provide assistance to agriculture in the amount of no more than 9 billion dollars a year (now the amount of assistance is 4.5 billion dollars a year, but the amount of subsidies will still be discussed at multilateral negotiations).

The direct part of the Protocol, which determines the conditions under which Russia joined the WTO, is the List of obligations for goods and the List of obligations for services. The list of service obligations contains certain restrictions on the access of foreign persons from WTO members to a particular Russian service market (business, financial, transport services, etc.). If such restrictions are not stipulated by Russia, or if they are stipulated in this list, but not enshrined in Russian law, then according to the rules of the WTO, two principles will have to operate: 1) the principle of "national treatment", that is, the same rules (often legal, tax, procedural, etc.) will apply to foreign persons as for Russian persons(unless otherwise follows from the Russian federal law, which does not contradict the rules of the WTO and the obligations of Russia as a member); 2) the “most favored nation” principle, which means that if Russia provides some kind of favorable legal treatment for foreign persons from one WTO member (but not for Russian persons), then it should automatically apply to foreign persons from any other WTO member . The most significant changes in the legal regime of access and work of foreign persons in the Russian market have occurred in the field of insurance, financial, telecommunications services. By signing the Protocol, Russia also expressed its consent to join the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO with all its annexes, the text of which is posted in English on the official website of the WTO. Russia became a WTO member on August 22, 2012.

Russia's Concessions on WTO Accession

Agriculture

In 2010, Russia made significant concessions on the regulation of its agriculture. September 27 minister Agriculture met with representatives of 20 states, and announced that until 2012 the volume of state support for the national agro-industrial complex will remain at the same level, and in 2013-2017 it will be halved - from $9 billion a year to $4.4 billion. According to data published in 2008 by RIA Novosti, the level of state support for agriculture in Russia is already significantly lower than in other states: in the United States, state support for the ruble of manufactured products is 16 kopecks, in the EU countries 32 kopecks, in the Russian Federation - 6 kopecks .

According to former Minister of Agriculture Alexei Gordeev, by accepting the WTO terms, Russia risks a reduction in the share of exports from 1.3% to 1%, and the share of foreign agro-industrial goods will increase from 1.9% to 2.3%. The costs will amount to $4 billion.

Market access

As a result of negotiations, Russia agreed to give foreign insurance companies the opportunity to open direct branches in the country. In the field of business services, distribution of goods and production of computer equipment, the emergence of companies with 100% foreign capital is allowed.

Russia has shown persistence in matters of the inviolability of the banking sector and has not supported the proposal of the Americans to allow direct branches of foreign banks into the Russian market. The need to fix this condition is set out in law in the draft Strategy for the Development of the Banking Sector until 2015. At the same time, the Russian side made certain concessions, increasing the share of foreign capital from 25% to 50% and allowing 100% foreign ownership of banks, brokerage and investment companies.

Air taxes

Russia agreed to the abolition of air taxes for trans-Siberian flights of passenger aircraft of foreign air carriers through its territory. The fact that planes flying over Siberia paid Russia up to $400 million a year caused the greatest claims from the European Union. For example, the amount of fees for the Boeing-757 was $87 per 100 km.

duties

In 2006, shortly before the conclusion of consultations with the United States, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade said that after joining the WTO customs duties for imported goods will decrease on average from 10.2% to 6.9%, including for agricultural products - from 21.5% to 18.9%. Duties on computers and components for them will be abolished (in 2005 they were 5-10%), the duties on copper for scrap metal will be reduced to zero.

Import duties on fruits will be reduced to 2-5%; for wine - from 20 to 12.5%; into some categories medicines up to 3-5%; for imported clothes by 2.5-5%; for new foreign cars - up to 15%, for aircraft - up to 12.5%. For alcohol, the prohibitive duty will remain - 100%, but not less than 2 euros.

In 2005, Russia undertook to freeze export duties on oil and gas.

Since 2006, Russia has been planning to gradually increase export duties on raw wood to prohibitive levels. In July 2007, the rate increased from 6.5% to 20% of the customs value, and for every cubic meter of roundwood the state received 10 euros. And in 2010 they should have reached 80% (50 euros per cubic meter).

In 2007, due to the unavailability of domestic industrial enterprises to rapidly increase the volume of wood processing, a moratorium on export restrictions was introduced, fixing duties at the level of 25%.

Since 2006, Russia has been planning to gradually increase export duties on raw wood to prohibitive levels. In July 2007, the rate increased from 6.5% to 20% of the customs value, and for every cubic meter of roundwood the state received 10 euros. And in 2010 they should have reached 80% (50 euros per cubic meter).

In 2007, due to the unwillingness of domestic industrial enterprises to rapidly increase the volume of wood processing, a moratorium on export restrictions was introduced, which fixed duties at the level of 25%.

The prospect of abandoning Russian timber caused a strong protest from Finland and Sweden, which once again complicated relations with the European Union. In 2010, this issue, according to the European Commissioner for Trade Karel de Gucht, called into question the early integration of Russia into the WTO.

Russia eventually agreed to a compromise: the duties would remain, but would be significantly reduced. Depending on the type of wood, they will amount to 5-15% of the customs value. The maximum duty on birch is 7%, on aspen - 5%. The economic publication BFM.ru wrote that by agreeing to such concessions, Russia would not incur significant financial losses, but risk complicating the development of its own woodworking industry.

Business support under the WTO will cost 75 billion rubles over three years

Accession to the WTO will cost the budget of the Russian Federation at least 75 billion rubles in the next three years: currently 60 billion rubles have been spent. This money is needed to support the branches of Russian business, which found itself in the difficult conditions of the World Trade Organization. The State Duma believes that the amount of support can be further increased.

After Russia's accession to the WTO, customs duties on many imported goods fell, after which domestic producers were not in a winning position. For example, for products of light industry enterprises, import duties fell from 40 to 5% of the value of the goods, while imports account for 80% Russian market. It is to support this industry that the most significant amounts are allocated.

Beyond highlighting additional funds MPs also propose to exempt the industry from income tax (for five to ten years). Budget revenues from light industry enterprises amount to about 2.4 billion rubles a year, of which 2.1 billion goes to regional budgets, 300 million to the federal treasury. The head of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Igor Rudensky, said that a proposal is now being considered to compensate the regions for shortfalls in income.

According to him, now the government is also considering the option of assistance to the agro-industrial complex in the amount of 15 billion rubles. The number of industries that could suffer from WTO accession and need support also included the timber industry and fisheries, the production of aircraft, helicopters and aircraft engines, as well as composite materials and rare earth metals.

So far, all "infusions" into Russian production fall short of the amounts allowed by WTO rules. Thus, only for supporting agriculture under the so-called yellow box (measures that affect the final price of products - subsidizing the interest rate on loans, subsidizing fertilizers, etc.), the Russian limit for 2012 is about $ 9 billion. “And we have only $3.6 billion in the budget for the middle of the year under the “yellow box”. The problem is that there is not enough money in the budget,” says Aleksey Portansky, professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Benefits for Russia from joining the WTO

According to expert forecasts, WTO membership will provide Russia with an annual growth of 1.2%, and according to estimates - up to 11% of GDP in the long term. It will open access for Russian products to world markets, give the country an effective mechanism for interacting with foreign partners, increase the investment attractiveness of Russian business and guarantee the growth of foreign trade.

Russian exporters will receive equal rights with other participants in the world market, which will benefit competitive players oriented to the external market, primarily large exporters of steel and agricultural products, mineral fertilizers, grain and timber, and the oil and gas industry.

WTO membership will allow Russian products to overcome trade barriers in the form of duties, quotas and restrictions, the annual costs of which are estimated at $2 billion. For example, there are currently more than 120 different restrictions on goods of the Russian metallurgical, chemical and light industries. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, this will allow diversifying exports through non-commodity goods.

According to the supporters of the idea, for an ordinary consumer, Russia's integration into the WTO will result in lower prices due to the influx of foreign goods and increased competition and cheap consumer loans.

Results of the first year of Russia in the WTO

In December 2013 " Russian newspaper” provided official statistics on exports. From January to September 2013, Russia supplies 9.6% more oil products to the world market, and 5.6% more processed timber. Passenger cars were exported by 14.2% more than in the same period last year (the statistics take into account exports to Belarus and Kazakhstan). However, these statistics will not help to draw conclusions about the negative or positive experience of Russia's accession to the WTO. Deputy Minister of Economic Development Andrei Klepach explains that "quite a short time has passed since the entry into the WTO. For some serious progress, a period of no less than several years is needed."

"Competing on the domestic market with foreign" heavyweights "in the future will be more and more difficult, since we have a huge depreciation of fixed assets of 70-75 percent. It is difficult to buy Russian when there is almost none left," the president says All-Russian organization quality Gennady Voronin. Today, Russians are 90% dressed in imported clothes, almost 60% of foreign food is on their tables, and 70% of foreign medicines. In this situation, only more effective practical measures can help. state support Russian goods on the market.

"World Trade Organization (WTO)" in publications website

• RUSSIA
• Ekaterinburg
• Chelyabinsk
• Rostov-on-Don
• Krasnoyarsk
• Nizhny Novgorod
• Novosibirsk
• Kazan

The WTO is an international institution that is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The last one was signed back in 1947. It was supposed to be temporary and would soon be replaced by a full-fledged organization. However, GATT was the main agreement governing foreign trade for nearly 50 years. The USSR wanted to join him, but they didn’t let him do this, so National history interaction with this structure begins only from the moment when Russia joined the WTO. This issue is the subject of today's article. It will also analyze the consequences of the fact that Russia joined the WTO, the pros and cons of this decision. We will consider the process, conditions and goals of joining the World Trade Organization, complex issues for the Russian Federation.

Has Russia joined the WTO?

The Russian Federation is the legal successor of the USSR. If we are talking about when Russia joined the WTO, then it is important to understand that this institution began to function only in 1995. The new organization began to control a much wider range of issues. The USSR formally applied for observer status during the Uruguay Round in 1986 with a view to further accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. However, the US rejected it. The reason was the USSR, which was not compatible with the concept of free trade. Soviet Union received observer status in 1990. After gaining independence, Russia immediately applied to join the GATT. Soon the General Agreement was transformed into a full-fledged organization. However, the direct entry of the Russian Federation into the GATT/WTO system took almost 20 years. There were too many issues to be agreed upon.

WTO accession process

Russia, as an independent state, began joining the World Trade Organization in 1993. Since that time, the comparison of the country's trade and political regime with WTO standards began. Bilateral talks then kicked off with Russia making its initial proposals on the level of support for agriculture and market access. These two issues formed the basis of the negotiations until the ratification of the agreements in 2012. In 2006, within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Forum, Russia and the United States signed a protocol for Russia's accession to the WTO. However, the global financial crisis began, and negotiations on the implementation of further stages of obtaining membership in the organization were postponed. The conflict with Georgia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia also played its role. The agreement with this country was the last step on the way to Russia's accession to the WTO. It was signed in 2011 in Switzerland.

Customs Union

Considering the question of when Russia joined the WTO, it is important to understand that since January 2010, the Russian Federation wanted to participate in the accession process as part of the Customs Union. Vladimir Putin made a statement about this at a meeting of the EurAsEC Council in June 2009. The customs union includes, apart from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. It was formed back in October 2007. WTO members can be not only countries, but also integration associations. However, the leadership of the World Trade Organization immediately warned the Russian authorities that such a requirement would significantly delay the process of obtaining membership. Already in October 2009, Russia made a statement about the expediency of resuming bilateral negotiations. Kazakhstan joined the World Trade Organization in 2015, while Belarus is still not a member of this international institution.

When Russia joined the WTO: date, year

The resumption of bilateral negotiations has greatly simplified the process of joining the World Trade Organization for the Russian Federation. By December 2010 all problematic issues have been settled. A corresponding memorandum was signed at the Brussels summit. August 22, 2012 is the date when Russia joined the WTO. The date was marked by the ratification of the Protocol on the accession of the Russian Federation, signed on December 16, 2011, and the entry into force of the relevant regulatory legal act.

Entry conditions

The procedure for joining the WTO is quite complicated. It consists of several stages and takes at least 5-7 years. First, the state applies for membership. After that, the country's trade and political regime is considered at the level of special working groups. At the second stage, negotiations and consultations take place on the conditions for the applicant's membership in the WTO. Any interested country can join them. First of all, the negotiations concern access to the markets of the state and the timing of the introduction of changes. The conditions for joining are formalized by the following documents:

• Report of the working group. It sets out the entire list of rights and obligations that the country has assumed.
• List of tariff concessions in the commodity area and permitted opportunities for subsidizing the agricultural sector.
• List of specific obligations in the service sector.
• List of exemptions from most favored nation treatment.
• Legal arrangements at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
• Accession protocol.

On last step the ratification of a package of documents, which was agreed within the framework of special working groups. After that, it becomes part of the national legislation of the applicant state, and the candidate country becomes a member of the World Trade Organization.

Goals and objectives

When Russia joined the WTO in 2012, it did so as part of its economic development strategy. Today, the state cannot build an effective national economy without being a member of this organization. Russia pursued the following goals in its accession to the WTO:

• Gaining greater access to foreign markets for domestic products through the use of which is declared by this organization.
• Creation of favorable by bringing national legislation in line with international standards.
• Increasing the competitiveness of domestic goods.
• Empowerment for Russian entrepreneurs and investors abroad.
• Getting the opportunity to influence the formation of international legislation in the field of trade, taking into account their own national interests.
• Improving the image of the country in the eyes of the world community.

Such lengthy accession negotiations are evidence of a desire to achieve the most favorable membership conditions for Russia.

Tariff changes

One of the main obstacles to Russia's membership in the WTO was the harmonization of a policy of access to its market for foreign goods. The weighted average import tariff was reduced. On the contrary, the quota of foreign participation in the insurance sector was increased. After passing, import duties will be reduced on household appliances, drugs and medical equipment. As part of accession to the WTO, 57 bilateral agreements on access to the domestic goods market and 30 on the services sector were concluded.

Agricultural issues

In addition to discussing tariff concessions, the defense of agricultural sector Russia. RF sought to reduce the number of subsidies to be reduced. 11.275% instead of 15.178% for agricultural products. There was a sharp decline of 10-15% for certain commodity groups. After Russia joined the WTO in the year when the global financial crisis began to subside, the domestic agricultural sector faced much greater competition in the domestic and foreign markets.

Consequences for the Russian Federation

To date, there are many monographs and articles devoted to assessing the entry of the Russian Federation into the World Trade Organization. Most experts note the positive impact of this process on the country's economy. So in what year did Russia join the WTO? In 2012 What changed? Joining took 18 years of hard work. This process took much longer than expected. Therefore, a positive effect can manifest itself only in the distant future. As predicted by most experts, short term there are far more losses due to WTO membership than real gains. However, the strategic advantages are worth some tactical defeats. Thus, joining the WTO is, of course, a positive step, without which further development country would be impossible.

Advantages and disadvantages of membership

Since Russia joined the WTO in 2012, legal scholars and economists have not tired of publishing new articles analyzing the prospects and problems associated with this event. Three opinions can be arbitrarily distinguished:

1. Neutral. For example, Professor Alexander Portansky believes that accession to the WTO does not bring any benefit or harm.
2. critical. The analyst notes that accession to the WTO does not give Russia any obvious advantages in the short term. However, this event is beneficial for other members of the organization. Kozlov does not consider long-term prospects for Russia.
3. negative. Yaroslav Lisovik, chief economist at the Russian branch of Deutsche Bank, believes that accession to the WTO may have a negative impact on the country's economy, especially on the manufacturing industry, due to a reduction in import duties.

However, most experts agree that all the benefits for Russia from membership in the World Trade Organization will be manifested under the condition of a competent internal and foreign policy only in the long run.