Russia and WTO

More than 10-15 years after most of the former Soviet Union and former Eastern Bloc countries joined the World Trade Organization, Russia remains one of the largest economies in the world that is not a member. However, this may change soon. After years of debates, Russia and Georgia have struck an agreement that would allow Russia to join the WTO. Russia is currently the only BRIC economy that is not a member of this organization. Of the other FSU countries, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan are still in the Observer stage, and Turkmenistan has not started negotiations.