Too late? Expert about Belarus’s presumable joining WTO


The Belarusian authorities have been back to the issue of the country’s going into the World Trade organization (WTO).

Belarus may join the WTO before the end of 2017, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Uladzimir Ulakhovich said on Sunday. A delegation led by Belarus’ First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Yeudachenka is taking part in the talks on Belarus’ WTO entry in Geneva on 23-26 January.

However, Belarus is too late to join the organization, Leanid Frydkin, editor-in-chief of the newspaper ‘Ekonomicheskaya Gazeta’, believes.

“The organization has 264 members. The countries that counted on any benefits have already got the desirable ‘pieces’; that is why Belarus will have to conform to the positions of those who joined before. All our EAEC partners have already become its members.”

Asked what conditions Belarus should fulfil to be admitted to the WTO, the expert answered that the country would have to agree to some restrictions when introducing protective measures against imported goods on the Belarusian market.

“This might touch automotive products, light industry. Moreover, perhaps we will have to remove the barriers limiting the foreign insurance companies’ access to the Belarusian market. Given that our market is modest, foreign negotiators are unlikely to seek for it, since it is not the most interesting market for foreign companies.”

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