Russia in the WTO: Unriddling the Mystery of Russia’s Trade Policy

After almost two decades of accession negotiations, Russia was invited in mid-December last year to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This was welcome news. The Russian bid to join the pantheon of rules-based capitalism has been controversial – in Russia as well as among WTO members. But Russia should quickly accept the invitation of joining. And Russia’s main trade and investment partners should prepare for the entry of disobedient member of the club – a contrarian, however, with little capacity to fracture the WTO.