Russia wants EU to cancel aggressive agriculture subsidies

MARRAKESH, Morocco, Oct 10 (PRIME) -- The E.U. countries are aggressively using subsidies to their farmers to protect producers, and Russia will try to cancel these subsidies through the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin told reporters late on Monday.

On Monday, the WTO held an informal meeting prior to an official summit in two months in Argentina, and members of the organization announced their plans, Oreshkin said.

“We also stepped forward with our priorities to cancel or cut subsidies to agriculture on the global market. We see that other countries use this channel in an aggressive way, it warps competition as our products, whose quality and price are much more competitive, are unable to get to other markets as the countries close them,” he said.

“I am talking about the E.U. countries in the first place. There are two other initiatives that we support. First, it is an agreement on regulation of investment, creation of a basis from the point of view of regulating investment activity, a basis on which thecountries could communicate with each other.”

He said that the second document covers e-commerce.

“Russia would like to make the discussion on e-commerce and on simplifying investment more active. We should create special working groups with a mandate to negotiate for ministers if we have to do it,” he said.

Moscow also hopes that other BRICS states – Brazil, India, China, and South Africa – will stand a common ground and fight against protectionism at the WTO meeting.

“I think it is important for the future of the WTO that the BRICS states stand united. A united position may become a new center, a new driver for development of the WTO,” he said when asked about whether the countries will work out a position against protectionism in trade.

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