Leanid Zaika: Belarus won’t accede to WTO under Lukashenka’s reign

Activation of steps that allow Belarus to join the World Trade Organization can be viewed rather as diplomatic maneuvers.

 This opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared Leanid Zaika, the economist.

“Whichever country can accede to theInternational Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization and the Council of Europe. There is much to gain from it: imagine going to Geneva, attending meetings there, feeling the importance of yourself and discussing absolutely abstract questions during coffee-breaks”, - described his view of the situation Leanid Zaika.

The economist sees no sense in Belarus’s striving to join WTO: “For instance, Kyrgyzstan is a member of WTO for 10 years already, so what? The same thing with Moldova. Now, when we are in the Customs Union with Russia, we are already participating in the competition with the Western countries and global markets”.

According to Leanid Zaika, it is politics that matters when it comes to acceding WTO. “Why Cuba is not a member of WTO? Well, with time, when Fidel Castro is succeeded by new politicians, they’ll immediately go to Geneva to drink coffee. It is some sort of diplomatic entertainment called “leaving for negotiations at WTO”, - the economist made a joke.

In such situation there is no big sense to engage in the problem of entering WTO: “As long as Lukashenka is in power, the US will never approve of Belarus’s accession to WTO; it is ridiculous”. Nevertheless, is it only politics that prevents us from joining WTO? Does Belarus answers the obligatory requirement, necessary for accessing this organization, which is market economy?

“What else can the impediments be? If Kyrgyzstan and Moldova are already in WTO, what else then?” – claims Leanid Zaika.

“I advised American diplomats on the possible impediments for importing American products in Belarus, - continued the economist. – There are absolutely none! American products are competitive, and are easily conveyed. Free market, as much as you like”.