USTR Asks for Comments on Russian WTO Commitments

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked industry stakeholders to comment on Russia’s implementation of its World Trade Organization commitments. The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee will also use the stakeholder comments to craft its annual report on Russia’s WTO obligations, USTR said. The agency will also convene an Oct. 8 hearing on the matter. The 2014 report lashed into Russia for failing to meet the commitments it pledged when joining the WTO in 2012 (see 1412230061). In that report, USTR didn’t criticize Russian customs procedures, but tore into sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions on U.S. agriculture exports. Russia imposed a ban in 2014 on some U.S. agriculture after the Obama administration and allies sanctioned Russia over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict (see 14082620). Comments for the 2015 report are due on Sept. 28. USTR prefers stakeholders submit comments through www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2015-0015.