Russia could become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from July 1, 2008, a Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry official said during the 6th Russian Food Industry conference, organized by the Adam Smith Institute.
"There are reasons to believe that the technical and organizational procedures will be over with in the first quarter of 2008. The legal formalities would take another month. Russia could then join the WTO from July 1, 2008," said Andrei Kushnirenko, deputy head of the ministry's Trade Negotiations Department.