MOSCOW (AP) - The head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised Russia's efforts at economic reform and said Wednesday his organization will push hard for Russia's acceptance into the World Trade Organization.
"I'm impressed by the serious progress toward a market economy in Russia," said Thomas Donohue, the chamber's president. "We will put the weight of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce behind Russia's entry into the WTO."
Donohue spent three days in Russia sizing up the country's investment climate in meetings with American executives and Russian officials. His visit, coming just weeks ahead of a May summit between U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, added new momentum to Russia's 7-year-old WTO bid.
Donohue cited numerous barriers to investment in Russia, including thick bureaucracy, government subsidies, high customs duties, a weak court system, and poor enforcement of intellectual property rights. But he said Russia is making significant progress with reforms and has a "vibrant, entrepreneurial" business sector.
"Yes, there are roadblocks, there are frustrations, but on the whole, the American business community is upbeat," he said.
He called on the U.S. Congress to officially designate Russia as a "market economy" and get rid of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, Cold War-era legislation that ties Moscow's trade privileges to its policies on Jewish emigration.
Donohue also said the United States and Russia should not let recent disputes over poultry and steel sidetrack their overall trade relationship, and said Russia's entry into the WTO would help by allowing Russia to defend its economic interests in an international forum. Economists note that membership would also help other countries who want to punish Russia for unfair trade practices.
Donohue said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, representing 3 million companies and organizations, would campaign as intensively for Russia as it did for China, which was accepted into the WTO last December. Russia has negotiated broad trade agreements with roughly half of the WTO's 144 members, but must still reach individual deals with the U.S., the European Union, China and Japan, Donohue said.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, speaking in Brussels, said Russia would only agree to join the WTO on "standard and equal terms" with other members, without restrictions, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.