NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A U.S. trade official said Washington's contentious haggling with Moscow over World Trade Organization membership terms is about to conclude.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Friday that the two sides expect to sign a bilateral deal, which is necessary if Russia is to join the WTO, next week in Vietnam, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The United States is the last of Russia's trading partners to settle its bilateral trade policy differences with the big Eurasian economic power, the largest economy outside the 149-member WTO.
"We have an agreement in principle and we are finalizing the details," said Schwab. "We are also holding consultations with the Congress and our cleared advisers. This agreement will mark an important step in Russia attaining membership in the WTO."
U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Vietnam next week for the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
