Russia to suspend WTO agreements

Russia will suspend some of its agreements made during its bid to become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Interfax quoted Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as saying Sunday.
Putin said the deals covering elements in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors are unfair, but vowed to return to the agreements once Russia becomes a member of the Geneva-based body, according to the news agency.
"Not being a member of this organisation, we do not receive anything positive in return. This situation goes against our interests in certain sectors of the Russian economy, particularly agriculture," he said.
"We will suspend a number of programmes, but we will return to them as soon as we become a full-fledged member of the WTO," he added.
Putin said the suspension concerns red meat, poultry and manufacturing.