The United States and Russia are on the brink of an agreement that would finally allow Moscow to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), trade officials have said. The bilateral deal will likely be signed at an Asia-Pacific summit in Vietnam next week. “We have an agreement in principle and are finalizing the details,” said U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab in a statement. “This agreement will mark an important step in Russia attaining membership in the WTO.” Both U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to attend the summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in the Vietnamese capital on November 18-19. Russian Economic Development Minister German Gref confirmed that Moscow hoped for a WTO deal with the United States next week. “Both sides have agreed on all principal conditions for this agreement,” Gref's ministry said in a statement. “Both delegations are currently holding internal consultations in order to ensure the signing of a bilateral agreement on market access during the APEC summit in Hanoi.”
