Camp Backs WTO, PNTR for Russia
The economic benefits of Russia joining the World Trade Organization and getting Permanent Normal Trade Relations "are clear," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) in opening remarks prepared for a hearing June 20. He said they include "greater opportunities for U.S. employers, farmers, and ranchers to sell American goods and services to Russia. We would give up nothing -- not a single U.S. tariff -- but we would obtain a powerful new enforcement tool and important rights, while bringing our two countries closer on multiple fronts."
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But Camp noted that "Russia continues to generate considerable skepticism on Capitol Hill. Some of this skepticism is rooted in the significant bilateral commercial issues that we have with Russia." Russia remains on USTR's priority watch list for inadequate enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights, he said: "This problem is especially acute regarding Russia's failure to address Internet piracy." He also cited Russia's "abuse of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements to keep out U.S. meat exports, but said when Russia joins WTO it must adopt science-based SPS requirements that reflect international standards.