Russia, EU Agree on WTO Entry Terms

 

Lisa McAdams

Russia clinched¹ deal Friday with the European Union on the terms of its entry into the World Trade Organization. President Putin agreed in return to the EU's backing of Russia's membership to speed up ratification² of the Kyoto Protocol³ on reducing pollution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looked on as his economic development and trade minister, German Gref, and EU Trade Commissioner⁴ Pascal Lamy signed the protocol backing Russia's accession to the WTO.
The document lays out conditions for bringing Russian goods to European markets, and removes a major obstacle to Russia's long-held hopes of becoming a member of the world trade body.
Trade and Russia's ratification of the Kyoto protocol dominated the EU-Russia summit.
President Putin told a Kremlin press conference, the signing of the protocol demonstrates Russia is seen by Europe as an equal trading partner.
Mr. Putin says joining the WTO is very important for Russia. He says the accord with Europe is a positive step that can only reflect well on Russia's relations with other WTO partners.
Russia's next hurdle⁵ in its quest for membership in the 147-nation world trade body is negotiating similar agreements with other WTO members, including the United States and China.
Vadim Novikov, of the Moscow Institute for Economies in Transition, says he is surprised Russia did not have to agree to ratify⁶ the Kyoto Protocol immediately. He says President Putin has long held out on ratifying⁷ Kyoto, questioning its scientific merit and economic consequence for Russia. He says Mr. Putin felt Europe has met Russian demands in the trade talks half-way.
European officials had long accused Russia of using ratification of the Kyoto agreement as a bargaining chip for WTO entry.

注释：
ratification [7rAtifi5keiFEn] n. 批准
accession [Ak5seFEn] n. 就任
Kremlin [5kremlIn] n. 克里姆林宫，原苏联政府。
hurdle [5hE:dl] n. 障碍，困难

 

1 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

2 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

3 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

6 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

7 ratifying   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They call their State Assembly a disgrace for ratifying the 35th. 他们把州议会通过的第35号修正案说成是可耻的行为。 来自辞典例句
• The Obama administration, unlike its predecessor, talks of ratifying the test-ban treaty. 该会议五年举办一次，回顾其间发生的事情。 来自互联网