Readout of Ambassador Kirk’s Meeting with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ambassador Kirk met with First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington, D.C. They discussed a range of issues, with a focus on Russia’s World Trade Organization (WTO) accession negotiations, which have entered a final phase. Ambassador Kirk expressed confidence that remaining issues, including satisfactory resolution of bilateral discussions between Russia and Georgia, would be addressed constructively and in a manner enabling Russia to meet its objective of concluding the WTO negotiations by the end of the year.

“I was pleased to welcome Minister Shuvalov to Washington today,” said Ambassador Kirk. “We had a very productive conversation about Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization. Russia has made great progress on its accession bid. I look forward to continuing to work with Minister Shuvalov and others in Russia as the process moves towards its successful conclusion."