MINSK, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus believes it should join the World Trade Organization along with Kazakhstan and Russia, a first deputy prime minister said in parliament Friday.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan plan to join the global trade body in the form of a united customs territory. The decision was made on June 9 after talks between the three countries' prime ministers.
"For us it is beneficial to join the WTO in a united pool," Vladimir Semashko said, adding that Belarus has an open, export-oriented policy.
The customs union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is expected to start operating from January 1, 2010, when the three countries introduce a single customs tariff; a single customs code will take effect later that July, and by mid-2011 all the required procedures will have been completed to establish a united customs territory.
Russia has been involved in talks to join the WTO for 16 years, Kazakhstan for 13 years. Belarus recently has shown no desire to join the global trade body.
Semashko said the joint application to join the WTO could take over 12 years.
"Russia has been trying to join the WTO since 1993. Now there is a new cycle - we are joining via a united customs union - Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan. This cycle could take 10-12 or even longer," he said, adding that this was due to the amount of bilateral talks required with member countries prior to entry.
Semashko said Belarus hopes to create a free trade zone with the European Union after the country is included in the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) program aimed at promoting economic growth. He said he was expecting the country to reenter the GSP program in early 2010.
"Belarusian losses to the economy due to the country's exclusion since 2006 from the GSP have totaled $80-85 million," he said.
