Russia urges US to give up on blocking WTO mechanisms
The Russian Federation calls on its American colleagues to stop attempts to undermine global trade and restart a constructive and equal dialogue within the framework of the World Trade Organisation – as stated by the official representative of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, TASS reports
"We once again call on Washington to stop trying to shatter the supporting structure of global trade. This actually refers not only to global trade but also to international relations in general. We call on to return to a constructive and equal dialogue in the WTO. Most importantly, in the current conditions of numerous global challenges, it really takes on a special meaning," she said.
Ms. Zakharova noted that ‘the paralysis of the two-stage dispute resolution system established in the WTO makes it difficult for other countries to challenge a number of trade measures’. She stressed that the measures taken by the United States ‘are quite another puzzle in the overall picture of the US attitude to the world as a whole’.
"Many organisations would like to question trade measures on the grounds that have been worked out in this organisation, but it is impossible to do this because the appeal mechanism is blocked by the United States. Measures to deter and unfair competition are introduced by the United States, while it is insisting that everyone should follow the WTO rules. Those who have doubts that these rules are being violated, and those who would like to use the existing dispute resolution mechanisms do not have such an opportunity, because they are blocked by the United States," she added.
Earlier, the US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, said that the US intends to use the WTO mechanisms in order to hold Russia accountable for the actions attributed to it in the field of trade. This statement was made against the background of a report published for the US Congress on Moscow's fulfilment of its obligations under the WTO. According to the American side, ‘Russia maintains restrictions on borders, applies measures to curb trade within the country, pursues an industrial policy that seems to be aimed at replacing imports and forcibly transferring operations to the country’.
