MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Some countries’ attempts to create closed-off and nontransparent projects such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are regrettable, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Sputnik and the IANS news agency.
"The global economic and financial situation remains difficult, with the consequences of the global financial crisis still persisting. It is therefore regrettable that certain countries seek to solve the problems that have built up by introducing protectionist measures and trying to engage in restricted non-transparent projects, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership or the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership," Putin said.
The president stressed that that Russia and its BRICS partners remained committed to "shaping open non-discriminatory economic areas" based on the principles of the World Trade Organization.
