Russia could become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in July-September 2008, Andrei Kushnirenko, deputy director of Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry's department for trade negotiations, said at an automobile industry conference Wednesday.
"The talks have almost been completed," Kushnirenko said. Russia still must complete talks with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said, adding that he did not know the reasons why those two countries were seeking talks with Russia.
Under WTO rules, any member country can seek talks with an aspiring member.
"We hope that talks with these countries will be completed in January-February 2008," he added.
Speaking on multilateral talks on Russia's accession to the WTO, Kushnirenko said that the number of unsettled issues was very small. Among those issues is Russian government subsidies to domestic agricultural producers, Kushnirenko said.