WTO is marking time. Russia will push?

21
Last week, the Russian delegation for the first time in its stories took part in the meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organization. The head of the Russian delegation was Maxim Medvedkov, who has been an active supporter of the entry of the Russian Federation into the WTO. What are the results of this meeting for Russia? So far, the results seem very unimpressive ...

Recall that Russia for the entire official history of the WTO (since 1995) turned out to be the only country that has been negotiating its accession with representatives of the organization for 17 years. As a result, after leveling the last disagreements between Russia and the World Trade Organization, or rather, between Russia and Georgia, which stubbornly did not turn on the green light before their main world opponent, our country nevertheless found itself in the WTO. At the same time, we received a 156 sequence number (of the total WTO member countries 157, the 157 position in the list was taken by the island nation of Vanuatu).

It would seem that accession to the WTO would have opened up opportunities for us not only to give new impetus to the development of the Russian economy, but also for the possible promotion of our trade interests through the WTO. But while our 156-position in the list of accepted little impresses all other members, and therefore, instead of someone to dictate something, we ourselves have to fight back from the very specific WTO-shnyh concepts.

Naturally, there has been too little time since joining the organization, and therefore there are no special reasons for dusting the head with ashes. However, you need to be completely honest with yourself and declare that, obviously, no one is going to make any concessions to Russian goods on the world market, if Russia itself does not take concrete steps to promote them. Unfortunately, we have been boiling in our own juice for too long now to take it in such a short time and, literally with our foot, opened the door to the WTO and loudly announce our presence from the threshold. So far, it must be admitted, Russian manufacturers have a peculiar inferiority complex that has been forming for a long time. Manufacturers would certainly be happy to bring their goods to international markets, but even if a number of foreign companies need such goods, these companies will use the WTO tools to do everything to get more quality products at the lowest possible prices.

At the same time, many Russian industrial sectors find it extremely difficult to compete in the conditions of the WTO with similar industrial sectors of foreign countries. Let's try to figure out what Russian products (if you do not take into account the attention of oil, gas and weapon) today can become competitive in the global market. Frankly speaking, well, we don’t have so many well-developed industrial sectors that could saturate foreign markets with relatively inexpensive and high-quality products. The field of electronics and microelectronics can be immediately deduced from the brackets, as Russia today itself purchases the lion's share of such products from foreign companies. In this area, even if in the near future there will be at least some positive shift, then we are unlikely to reach an adequate level of competition with such, let's say, electronic giants like China, the United States, South Korea or Japan.

There is an option to promote their space programs. For obvious reasons, this sector could be a quite serious bid for Russia to get the first roles in the WTO format, but the catch here is that the space sector in our country is almost entirely under the responsibility of the state. Such a state of affairs can obviously serve as a reason for violating the first principle of the WTO itself, since this principle speaks of equality. But tell me which self-respecting government structures will want to take the path of equal partnership with foreign private companies. First, here the interests of those foreign companies can somehow intersect with objectively secret information that is associated with space research and development, and secondly, the more the state is involved in a particular business process, the higher the level of this process. bureaucratization and corruption And here it is not only about Russia. Corruption scandals associated with the intervention of government structures in the business, emerge in the European Union and the United States, and in several other countries. It turns out that in order to promote its services in the space sector on favorable terms, Russia needs to reduce the level of state intervention in this sphere. However, such a thesis from the point of view of the economic realities of the new time looks extremely doubtful. Why?

The thing is that today the World Trade Organization itself can not decide which way to go. And, by the way, such torments in the WTO began to be observed not today or even yesterday. The first sign of internal organizational controversy flew over the WTO as early as 2001, when the so-called Doha (named after the meeting venue - Doha, the Qatari capital) was launched. The World Trade Organization’s development consultations and negotiations. The main thesis of this round, which (the round) has not been completed yet, is that certain countries proposed to bring the liberalization of the economy of the WTO states to new heights and at the same time abolish any kind of subsidy for agricultural products, introduce rules for regulating intellectual property.

It is not difficult to guess that such ideas promoted states with consisted economies. We are talking about the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany and other countries of the world. Strongly against the Doha Protocol with similar theses were made by the countries that by that time were ranked among the developing ones (India, Turkey, China, Brazil, etc.). The former were both hands on liberalization and the tightening of norms for the use of intellectual property within the WTO, as they needed free access to such rapidly growing markets as the market of Southeast Asia, South America and other regions. At the same time, it was in countries actively advocating liberalization that by the beginning of the 21st century there was the highest percentage of production of intellectual property in the world.
Those who did not want to let the economic giants into their territory on favorable terms exclusively for these giants opposed. Moreover, the same China spoke out against the Doha Protocol with both hands and feet, because, as we all know, intellectual property protection is not all right ...

It would seem that the contradictions had ripened literally polar, and therefore the Doha round could have ended with the frank pushing of the trade interests of the United States, Britain and others like them through WTO funds, which become very flexible if they touch Washington, London or, say, Brussels. But the situation went the other way, and the adjustments to it were made by the notorious economic crisis, which led to the fact that even in the overly economically liberal United States of America and the European Union, the government took steps that allowed the economies not to fall into the abyss. Printing machines were used in the course, which filled the banking sector with new, smelling paint and bills. At the same time, many commercial structures received financial assistance, which, de jure, did not correlate in any way with the state. But, here, as they say, not to fat ... They spoke extremely cautiously about the obvious and uncompromising economic liberalization in the world, and looking at the Greeks who were drowning and holding onto endless external loans, the phrase “economic liberalization” began to look just horrible.

Some in the West openly talked about the fact that the entire financial system and the WTO can only be saved by government intervention, because financial flows, despite the apparent existence of very effective WTO tools, did not go into the real sectors of the economy, but systematically entered the bank accounts of narrow circle of stakeholders.

So it turns out that today we are talking about some destructiveness of the excessive activity of the Russian government in terms of economic regulation, and at the same time we keep in mind the situation in which the World Trade Organization itself recently managed to turn into an environment to serve the interests of a very few oligarchic group .

Of course, everything looks just perfect, because the WTO is on three pillars: transparency, equality and reciprocity. But, in fact, what kind of equality can be talked about when, for some states, insurmountable barriers are built within the WTO, and for others, these barriers are artificially dismantled. What kind of transparency, when for several years Russia could not really explain why it is not worthy of being in the World Trade Organization, and, for example, Haiti or Zimbabwe, who have a large part of the trade budget from foreign humanitarian aid, worthy of ...

Russia could, through the real field of equality and partnership, sell products of metallurgical combines, agricultural associations, enterprises of the woodworking sector through the WTO, but as long as the World Trade Organization approaches its principles only declaratively, nothing good can be expected from Russia for it.
By and large, the WTO has been marking time for years for 11, trying to veil the real goals of the major economies of the world with certain ephemeral pseudo-humanistic ideals. If today Russia does not openly declare this, then the very fact of its stay in the WTO will be all the more doubtful. In an attempt to fend off bothersome foreign producers, who are going to expand their own sales markets at the expense of Russia, you can forget about your own production. But at the same time, cutting off all ties with the WTO is a new way to self-preservation, which in the present conditions will not lead to positive either.

In general, and here it is necessary to maneuver and systematically defend their economic interests. And who is easy now? ..
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21 comment
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  1. +3
    10 October 2012 10: 02
    Hmm, the choice is difficult, specialists are needed, the main thing is to identify the lobbyists of other interests in time ...
    1. Nikita
      0
      10 October 2012 10: 50
      Watch the video "Rally of broad patriotic opposition"
      And you’ll understand why this is the WTO
  2. -2
    10 October 2012 10: 14
    Uh-huh, "will push" ... Forgotten already?


    Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization / WTO / should help it modernize its economy. Itself, so far, it may be useful to the organization, except by contributions to the general budgetalthough only with its accession did the WTO acquire a truly global status. This opinion was expressed, answering on Monday the question of corr. ITAR-TASS on this subject during a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy.
    1. Nikita
      +4
      10 October 2012 10: 51
      This is a lie, the WTO will destroy 40000 enterprises, millions of people will be left without work, the WTO is the death of the country's economy
      1. +3
        10 October 2012 11: 48
        Which 40000 enterprises will destroy the WTO? where do they get the companies in such quantity to destroy them. Everything that we could destroy and plunder, we ourselves drank together. Is not it?
  3. +7
    10 October 2012 10: 40
    In my opinion, Russia's accession to the WTO is like a lifeline for the WTO itself. Since the last time they have things to say frankly - not so hot.
  4. +5
    10 October 2012 10: 42
    here they are.
  5. +2
    10 October 2012 10: 47
    Russia will be able to propose some "other" rules of the WTO game if it becomes a real global political player (an over-strong union of "certain" republics).
  6. +3
    10 October 2012 11: 07
    According to the WTO, everything was said even before BLURDING into this G ...
    Putin knew better. Now the only thing that remains is to observe, or, as some people write, "look" and ... to assert ourselves in the most negative predictions about the consequences of joining E (v) TO G ...

    Smiled from the article only this phrase: "At the same time, we received a serial number 156 (the total number of WTO member countries is 157, the 157th position in the list of adopted Island state Vanuatu).
  7. +1
    10 October 2012 11: 20
    I am interested among those commenting are there people with economic education working in their specialty?
    1. +1
      10 October 2012 11: 45
      And what is the actual question?
      1. +1
        10 October 2012 11: 55
        The question is that a large mass of people have an imposed opinion about the WTO. Articles of any experts distorting the facts as they need.
        1. +1
          10 October 2012 12: 08
          Here I agree with you. All according to the principle - who shouted BAD, amicably picked up. Someone shouts GOOD - shouts well. Damn, that there is no opinion or what? I always say, before yelling and making "loud" statements, study the essence of the issue from all sides.
    2. 0
      10 October 2012 14: 47
      Quote: urzul
      I am interested among those commenting are there people with economic education working in their specialty?

      Do you always comment only on things related to your specialty? And as I understand it, you are an economist and a supporter of joining the WTO. What are the real and tangible benefits of the WTO for Russia? At least a couple of positive points? Just don't talk about "in the future" and by "2020".
      1. prunx
        0
        10 October 2012 16: 56
        The whole trick is that in fact, we entered the WTO right after the collapse of the USSR, opening the market for foreign products. Abroad, provide forgotten markets for our products. But now you can buy technology and establish your own production. I am already silent about competition: employers, for example, pay low wages to workers only because they are not afraid of staff fleeing to a competitor. It’s just that Russia is in a position where there is no way without the WTO. If we do not want to buy foreign products only for oil. Now the Duma will begin reading the law on the subordination of the CBR to the government. After the adoption of this law, the Russian Federation will be able to lend its economy at a very low interest rate, bypassing Western banks.
        1. +2
          10 October 2012 18: 47
          Quote: prunx
          The whole trick is that in fact, we entered the WTO right after the collapse of the USSR, opening the market for foreign products.

          They could have closed access to products with protective duties, as happened with the "bush legs" and second-hand "Japanese women", practically restoring the poultry industry and increasing the sale of "frets." Now, thanks to the WTO, Russia does not have such opportunities.
          Quote: prunx
          Abroad, provide forgotten markets for our products.

          Have you opened it now?
          Quote: prunx
          But now you can buy technology and establish your own production.

          And what prevented buying technology before the WTO? Or are the prices different? Does being an organization give you special access to technology? A link to the document, please, where it is written.

          Quote: prunx
          I am already silent about competition: employers, for example, pay low wages to workers only because they are not afraid of staff fleeing to a competitor.


          They will pay even less, because competitors will be foreign, mainly Chinese. The flight of workers is not planned.

          Quote: prunx
          Now the Duma will begin reading the law on the subordination of the CBR to the government. After the adoption of this law, the Russian Federation will be able to lend its economy at a very low interest rate, bypassing Western banks

          The same question, why reassignment of the Central Bank could not be considered before the WTO?
  8. 0
    10 October 2012 11: 48
    ... most likely not (with an economic education).

    What 40000 enterprises will the WTO destroy? where do they get the companies in such quantity to destroy them. Everything that we could destroy and plunder, we ourselves drank together. Is not it?
  9. donchepano
    +1
    10 October 2012 12: 12
    our leadership forever enters into some sort of de ...
  10. Irek
    +2
    10 October 2012 13: 23
    Quote: vel77
    we drank it together with you. Is not it?

    I personally did not participate in privatization, I didn’t even go to receive a voucher, so I thought it was wrong ....
    s.s 44 years from birth at the moment
  11. 0
    10 October 2012 14: 01
    Quote: urzul
    I am interested among those commenting there are people with an economic education

    Do you suppose that the WTO Director General also lacks an economic education, if he so dismissively designated the place of Russia in the entire "system"? Is it Russia's lot to pay dues?
    1. +1
      10 October 2012 14: 14
      Itself, so far, it may be useful to the organization, except by contributions to the general budget
      Since joining the WTO takes years, and
      Destiny of Russia - to pay dues?
      This is already your fan throw

      "AT short term In the long term, the real good news is that Russia will make contributions to the WTO budget, which will cause others to pay less, "the organization's director general said.
  12. -1
    10 October 2012 14: 29
    Quote: urzul
    This is already your fan throw.


    Share your knowledge, and what exactly is thrown on the fan? I am in puzzled ignorance because I do not have an economic education.
    1. -1
      10 October 2012 14: 33
      What exactly have I already written, as well as the original statement. And what you are saying is nothing more than a beautiful title for a journalistic article to attract readers. no more.
  13. +2
    10 October 2012 14: 54
    But does the WTO have a fixed budget?
    "..urzul Today, 14:14 ↑ ..
    "In the short term, the real good news is that Russia will be contributing to the WTO, which will cause others to pay less "- said the director general of the organization.
    ..
    Suppose this is so - the budget is fixed.
    Well, we suckers, in this case - to pay for someone. That would Vanuatu - paid less. Or the USA, for example.
    ...
    But, it seems, the contributions to the WTO fund and the WTO budget are not interconnected. Simply put, this is a translation error.
    Then, on the basis of the tone, the article - that poor little Maxim Medvedkov is getting out of his way, if only to defend the interests of the country - wouldn’t it be easier not to bother with a bunch of burnt cheaters?
    ...
    I guess - only suddenly Russia will have an advantage ... in something .. The next round of Doha (or any regular) verbiage will begin right there.
    The States abolished the "Broom" law? - No.
    Magnitsky law adopted? - Yes.
    Protectionist measures have always been and will be.
    And against the 156 player - they will be even cooler.
    Because - Putin is to blame for everything.
    1. 0
      10 October 2012 15: 37
      Article VII.
      Budget and Contributions
      The Director General submits to the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administrative Issues a draft annual budget and financial report of the WTO. The Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration considers the draft annual budget and financial report submitted by the Director General and makes recommendations to the General Council on them. The draft annual budget is subject to approval by the General Council.
      The Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration submits proposals to the General Council regarding financial rules, which include provisions establishing:
      (a) scale of assessments with the distribution of WTO expenses among its members;
      (b) measures to be taken in respect of members in arrears.
      Financial rules should be based, as far as possible, on the rules and practice of the GATT 1947.
      The General Council adopts the financial rules and the draft annual budget by a two-thirds majority with the participation of more than half of the members.
      Each member as soon as possible makes a contribution to the WTO in the amount of his share of WTO expenses in accordance with the financial rules adopted by the General Council.

      I guess - only suddenly Russia will have an advantage ... in something .. The next round of Doha (or any regular) verbiage will begin right there.
      The States abolished the "Broom" law? - No.
      Magnitsky law adopted? - Yes.
      Protectionist measures have always been and will be.
      And against the 156 player - they will be even cooler.
      Because - Putin is to blame for everything.

      And you think everything with a wave of a magic wand will happen? where you have to start.
      Well, we suckers, in this case - to pay for someone. That would Vanuatu - paid less. Or the USA, for example.
      Well, given the share of the United States in world trade, a decrease in the payment by 0,5 does not give any gain.
      Russia pays 1,8% of the WTO budget, now the world economy is saved, of course.
      1. 0
        10 October 2012 16: 55
        And what is the proportionality of Russian payments (1,8%) and the share of expenses?
        How else would the composition of the General Council be seen?
        (I’m asking questions something - it seems, dear urzul in the subject. And I have to look.)
  14. +4
    10 October 2012 18: 07
    That's right, Obama covered up the Voice of America, they blabbed out here ... They even quote "our" finance minister!

    "... Meanwhile, economists, analysts and businessmen continue to insist that the country's accession to the WTO could lead to significant losses. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov recently announced that he expects a decline in budget revenues in 2013 by $ 310 billion.
    Against the background of numerous calculations of Russia's losses, experts say, it is almost not visible where and how the country will benefit from joining the WTO. On June 7, the State Duma’s website contains the draft federal law On Ratification of the Protocol on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization of April 15, 1994. Among the documents - an explanatory note: "The financial and economic rationale for Russia's entry into the WTO."
    This is a short document of one and a half pages, where, as experts from the WTO-Inform center emphasize, there is no description of the benefits of joining a trade organization. Experts believe that the materials "were not consistent with the constituent entities of the Federation, industrial and agricultural enterprises."
    “American exports to Russia will double,” said Yevgeny Korchevoy, a member of the working group on technological modernization of agriculture and agricultural machinery under the government of the Russian Federation, at a meeting with reporters. - At the same time, I want to draw attention to the fact that on the website of the American Chamber of Commerce there are documents that describe in detail: where will this double increase come from. That is, in what state which sectors will be able to increase their supplies to Russia. ”
    “The only thing that is on the website of the State Duma is a comment about the loss of money from the budget in 2013,” Korcheva is indignant. “At the same time, documents in the State Duma are considered in an accelerated mode: 10 days instead of 30!”
    To the question of the correspondent of the Voice of America Russian service about whether Russia will be able to restore its position in the long run, Korcheva answered unequivocally: no.
    “The American side will benefit significantly,” Korcheva explains. - Especially with the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Although I don’t understand who the amendment interfered with: everyone who wanted to export exported. Why cancel it? ”
    “Imagine that some economy, even the Ukrainian one, offered us to double export to them, only by signing a piece of paper,” the expert continued. - Yes, we will sign a few of them! Everything that we do within the framework of the WTO, we do unilaterally. The Americans themselves say that Russia does not require anything in return! ”
    Evgeny Korchevoy points out that “even in the USA there is a discussion whether to cancel the amendment or not. We have no discussion. There is a discussion in the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, in other parties or spheres, and in “United Russia” there is no discussion. Everything is unanimous. ”
    (C)

    But can and Siluyanova no economic education?
  15. +1
    10 October 2012 21: 30
    And why did not Stalin join the WTO? (Funny of course)
    But to hell with a self-sufficient economy is it necessary? AND?
  16. +2
    10 October 2012 21: 48
    Russia has always been "famous" for the fact that the laws adopted in the country, to put it mildly, are poorly implemented. This "experience" - the peculiarity of Russia should be used in relation to the WTO, to do what is beneficial to us, and let the WTO plowmen stomp their feet in indignation!
  17. Blat
    +1
    11 October 2012 01: 26
    However, one must be completely honest with oneself and state that, obviously, no one is going to make any concessions to Russian goods on the world market unless Russia itself takes concrete steps to advance them.
    goods in order to be bought must be in demand. for this you need quality, price and to be aware of this product. and no intervention by the country will force a resident, for example, of France to buy what he does not want to buy, and a businessman importing goods into France will never He wants to take the goods that an ordinary Frenchman will not buy. This is a set of equal rules. That is, you have the right that other market participants have. But the problems with the quality of the goods are the problems only of the manufacturer.

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