Russia, one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies in transition in recent years, will join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and assume the international legal obligations of membership in the world trading system by mid-2012. Russia's membership in the WTO will encourage greater transparency, adherence to the rule of law and increased certainty for U.S. trade and investment. As the world's 9th largest economy and with a growing middle class that is now almost a third of its population, Russia represents an attractive market for U.S. business seeking to maintain global competitiveness and sustain and create jobs in the United States.

The Coalition for U.S.-Russia Trade, a broad-based group representing U.S. manufacturing, services and agricultural interests (please click here for a full list of Coalition Members) , was formed to ensure an agreement on Russia's accession to the WTO on strong, commercially meaningful terms and to ensure that U.S. firms are able to tap into those commitments when Russia accedes. Our first aim was achieved. With a strong package in hand, the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva last December formally invited Russia to become a WTO member. As soon as Russia ratifies the accession package in the coming months, it will become a WTO member 30 days after formally notifying the WTO of its ratification.

Now, the Coalition seeks Congressional action to make sure that U.S. firms and farmers will have full access to the many commitments Russia has agreed to as part of its accession. In order for U.S. business and agricultural interests to reap the benefits of Russia's WTO accession, the U.S. Congress must pass critical legislation to lift the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment with respect to Russia and establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia.

PNTR with Russia is the U.S. business community's top legislative trade priority this year. The U.S. Congress must act in a timely fashion to guarantee U.S. firms and farmers the full terms of Russia's WTO membership that foreign competitors will automatically enjoy upon Russia's accession to the WTO. The U.S. Congress must graduate Russia from the Jackson-Vanik amendment and establish PNTR with Russia.

PNTR is for US.

Click here to learn more about how your company or organization can help work to achieve stronger U.S.-Russian commercial ties as a member of the Coalition.