"As of late September 23, the signing of protocol is not expected", Maxim Medvedkov, director of the ministry's trade talks board, told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
He said that the theme of Russia's entry in WTO is being discussed with the Chinese delegation which has arrived to Moscow.
On Friday it will be in discussion between the Russian and Chinese prime ministers.
Earlier, the Chinese side spoke up for the earliest finalisation of the talks.
"We very much hope that in course of the Russian visit by the State Council president and his talks with the Russian leadership the sides will reach an agreement in bilateral talks on Russia's entry in the WTO", Chinese ambassador to the Russian Federation Lyu Guchan told journalists in mid-September.
"A number of unsettled questions remain. If the sides meet each other half way, it is very possible that they (Russia and China) may reach a final agreement during the State Council premier's visit", the ambassador said.
Earlier, a source close to the talks told RIA Novosti that they are uphill and disputable questions on the import duties of consumer goods (clothes, footwear) and household appliances still remain. Russia is ready to cut the duties, though moderately and gradually so as not to harm domestic producers, he noted.
On September 21 Russia concluded the protocol on the completion of tariff talks with the Republic of Korea. It is the 13th trading partner and second largest (after the European Union) with which Russia has finalised talks on access to the goods market within the framework of joining the WTO.
