EU to consider granting Russia market economy status
The European Union (EU) is thinking of changing its opinion on Russia by giving the country market economy status and revising anti-dumping legislation. The two issues have been a stumbling block to negotiations in the past between the two sides.
EU Commissioner for trade Pascal Lamy announced the move during an address to the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow last Wednesday (December 5).
The EU may repeal the anti-dumping treatment of Russian imports if the issues worrying the union, in particular export duties, dual pricing and international bookkeeping standards, are resolved, he said. Goods can be treated as originating in a market economy unless the exporter does not abide by international rules of bookkeeping or operates in a sector that does not always follow market techniques.
Pascal Lamy said that any change in the rules requires a modification of EU legislation. The positions of countries using market economy status as a criterion in their anti-dumping legislation should also be allowed for, he said. He stressed that there should be no linkage between giving a country market economy status and its admission to the WTO. Russia's accession to the WTO would benefit all parties, Lami said.
