Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to continue WTO accession negotiations in Geneva
The 2011 conference will focus on the principles of multilateral relations amid the growing number of bilateral and regional trade agreements. The participants of the forum will discuss necessary conditions to ensure sustainable development of trade, revise the rules of multilateral trade system to enhance protection of those in need.
According to Sergei Semashko, Belarus is interested in the debate over trade policy in the era of mass communications. The forum will focus on e-commerce. "Since our country has only started developing this sector, it will be useful for us to learn about the experience of other countries, use their best practices as we draft the law on e-commerce which will be passed in Belarus shortly," Sergei Semashko explained.
Belarus' delegation is also planning to meet with its counterparts from Russia and Kazakhstan in Geneva to discuss the prospects of negotiations on the WTO accession for the three countries. "Belarus is interested in the accession to the WTO. The negotiations on the issue are in progress, however, we are eager to speed them up," Sergei Semashko said and reminded that Belarus filed an application to join the WTO in 1993 and since then the country has negotiated with the organization across four avenues. In order to join the WTO, Belarus needs to unify its national legislation with WTO multilateral agreements, ensure maximum level of restrictions on the market for foreign suppliers of goods and services, reducing state support of agriculture.
About 400 MPs from different countries are expected to partake in the conference. They will meet with the WTO officials who are responsible for decision-making and implementing agreements concluded in Doha; Kazinform refers cites BelTA.
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