ANSI Industry Briefing to address Russia's acceptance into WTO.
Press Release Summary:
Officially accepted into WTO in August 2012, Russia has made commitments to provide foreign companies with tools to prevent trade interference from non-tariff barriers. On November 16, ANSI will hold briefing to inform members of U.S. industry about implications of these commitments and gather feedback about standards, compliance, and market access priorities involving Russia. U.S. exports to Russia exceeded $8 billion in 2011, and are expected to rise with country’s membership in WTO.
Original Press Release:
ANSI to Host Industry Briefing on Market Access in Post-WTO Russia
New York - In August 2012, Russia – the world's ninth largest economy – officially acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO), opening up a major trade market and creating new financial opportunities for U.S. companies. U.S. exports to Russia exceeded $8 billion in 2011, and are expected to rise significantly as a result of Russia’s membership in the WTO, providing an attractive opportunity to expand U.S. competitiveness abroad.
As a new WTO member, Russia has made commitments that will provide foreign companies with tools to prevent trade interference from non-tariff barriers. Non-tariff barriers, one of the most important issues impacting U.S. exporters, can result from standards and compliance requirements that do not follow WTO principles.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will hold a briefing on Friday, November 16, 2012, as part of an effort to inform members of U.S. industry about the implications of Russia’s WTO-related commitments, and to solicit industry feedback about standards, compliance, and market access priorities involving Russia. The briefing’s keynote address will be provided by Matthew Murray, the deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) International Trade Administration (ITA); in addition, officials from the ITA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will deliver an overview of WTO requirements related to standards and technical barriers to trade (TBT). The briefing will also include an industry panel featuring company speakers discussing past experiences with Russia market access issues, including accessing requirements.
The briefing will be held at ANSI’s headquarters in Washington, DC (1899 L Street NW, 11th floor). A preliminary agenda for the briefing is available. Interested parties are encouraged to RSVP, as space is limited.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Leslie McDermott, ANSI program manager for international development (intl@ansi.org).
