Russia and US poised for WTO deal

The leaders of the US and Russia can put their heads together in Hanoi

Russia has finally cleared the last hurdle in its bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The US has agreed in principle to approve Russia's membership, after holding out in lengthy bilateral talks.

Russia and the US hope to sign a WTO accession deal at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam next week.

Despite previous Russian hopes of a break-through, negotiators failed to clinch a deal at the G8 summit in July.

Multiple objections

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Russia had shifted its position on many sticking points.

"We came close to completing our work in July, but needed more time," she said.

US reservations about Russia's human rights record, state control over key energy resources, intellectual property rights and restrictions on the activity of foreign companies have all held up a deal.

Russian resistance to sanctions against Iran in response to Tehran's nuclear ambitions also counted against it in US eyes.

Russian economic development minister German Gref said he hoped an agreement would be signed at the conference in Hanoi, where both US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present.