Canada's international trade minister gave firm backing to Russia's World Trade Organization bid after meetings in Moscow on Wednesday, AP reported. Jim Peterson said he had instructed officials to make sure an agreement was squared between Canada and Russia ahead of the next round of trade talks in Hong Kong in December. «The WTO without Russia is somewhat like a hockey player with one leg,» Peterson said. «We want Russia in the WTO as quickly as possible. Yesterday wouldn't be too soon.» While Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said some technical questions remain between the two countries, he said the road was clear of sensitive obstacles. «There are no problems left on the political level,» Gref said. Russia has been negotiating for entry into the 148-member global trading body since 1994. Russia has already signed a key bilateral agreement with the EU, its main trading partner, but has yet to reach a deal with the United States.
