'Russia-US WTO deal possible within days'

Moscow, Oct 31: Russia's negotiations with the United States on joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have entered their final stages and a deal is possible within days, Russian Economy Minister German Gref said on Tuesday.

''We are in a positive stage in our talks. We are in a daily dialogue,'' Gref told reporters.

''There is no such thing as simple negotiations, without problems and questions,'' Gref said. ''But their number has shrunk significantly and I hope we can put the finishing touches and wrap things up in the next few days.'' Russia is the biggest economy still outside the trade club and has been negotiating entry for 13 years. A trade pact with the United States is the biggest single obstacle remaining to Russian accession.

A spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's Office said on Monday the end was in sight to the negotiations.

Russian and U.S. negotiators have struggled to resolve disagreements over access to the Russian market for farm goods, aircraft and financial services. Washington is also concerned about Russian protection of intellectual property rights.

Even after cutting a deal with the United States, Moscow must still strike a multilateral accord with all 149 WTO member countries, a process likely to take months.

Russian membership of the bloc would be a major milestone in the country's transition from a communist to a market-based economy.

REUTERS