USTR Announces Public Hearing, Seeks Comments on Russia's WTO Commitments

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments to inform its annual congressional report on Russia’s implementation of obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, the USTR said in a notice the Aug. 14 Federal Register. The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee, chaired by the USTR, will hold a public hearing on Oct. 8. Written comments and requests to speak at the hearing are due Sept. 27.

The USTR is required to submit an annual report “on the extent to which Russia is implementing the WTO Agreement,” the notice said, including Russia’s agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, government procurement and more. If the USTR finds Russia is not properly complying with its WTO agreements, the representative must “report the actions it plans to take to encourage Russia to improve its implementation.”

The USTR is seeking comments about Russia’s commitment to import and export regulations, subsidies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, taxes on imports and exports, and other WTO commitments.