Russia and the World Trade Organization

After an exploration of the experience gained by former central and eastern European countries in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Peter Naray gives an analysis of the Russian economic and social crisis and comes to the conclusion that this crisis is responsible for the delay of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author criticizes the approach taken in Russian reforms because the country's historical legacy (weak legal system, underdeveloped political and economic institutions etc.) was neglected. The book describes the steps made by Russia towards WTO membership underlining the present and expected difficulties. It warns against a fundamentalist approach by the members of the WTO which may result in Russia's isolation in political and economic matters which would represent a danger to the whole world.

In this serious and thorough book Naray carefully informs readers of the problems facing Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Choice

Autorentext
PETER NARAY, Lawyer/Economist and specialist in economic transition has been Hungary's Ambassador and permanent representative to the Untied Nations and other international organizations. Between 1988 and 1995 he was counsellor in the GATT/WTO Secretariat and was previously an Official of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Trade and a Trade Diplomat in Geneva.

Inhalt
List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Preface Accession of Non-market Economies to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade The Road from Soviet Rejection of the GATT to Russia's WTO Accession Negotiations Recent Political, Economic and Institutional Development in Russia What Went Wrong with Russia's Economic Reforms? The Road to WTO Membership Main Issues of the Russian Transition Process Outlook for Russia's WTO Accession Footnotes References Index