WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) today issued the following joint statement regarding the decision by the Working Party on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to approve the terms and conditions for Russia’s accession to the WTO:
“We will be reviewing the details of the final agreement with our colleagues when we return to Washington. If done right, Russia’s WTO Membership has the potential tobreak down Russia’s trade barriers and to strengthen the rule of law and transparency so important for effective trade relations with Russia.
“Very importantly, it appears that Russia has committed to join the Information Technology Agreement when it becomes a Member of the WTO. This is a vital issue that we and other Members of Congress raised with the Administration over the past several weeks and needed to be resolved."
