Biden: Russia Needs To Join The WTO

by Rachel Christiansen

Although the U.S. trade relationship with Russia has improved since the Obama administration came into office, it is “nowhere near where it could or should be,”  according to Vice President Joe Biden.

Following recent security agreements such as the Start Treaty, which limits each country’s nuclear weapons, Biden says the next step in reaching trade potential is for Russia to join the World Trade Organization.

“Being a part of the W.T.O. means that Russia will have to play by the rules or face enforcement actions,” Biden said opinion piece written for the International Herald Tribune.

Biden argued that such agreements play a role in fighting corruption, which is “the biggest barrier to economic growth in Russia.”

Last week, Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, visited Russia.