EU threatens Russian trade bar

telegraph.co.uk ^ | Bruno Waterfield

[Tailgunner Joe]

The European Union is threatening to block Russian membership of global free trade agreements unless President Vladimir Putin pledged to "de-escalate" a deepening crisis between Moscow and its neighbours.

Secret EU documents reveal that patience in Europe's capitals is running out with Russia amid spiralling trade disputes and attacks this week on Estonian diplomats in Moscow.

Nato joined the EU yesterday in registering a formal diplomatic protest over Russia's failure to protect Estonian embassy staff from marauding demonstrators with close political links to Mr Putin.

Estonia and Russia are at each other's throats over violent protests following the relocation of a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn, the Baltic state's capital. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has fanned the flames by saying that moving the Red Army monument had "led to seriously negative consequences for Russian-Estonian relations".

The row has been escalated by a Russian rail blockade of oil and coal exports to Estonia, a development that will harden EU resolve to take a tough line on Moscow's ambition to membership of the World Trade Organisation.

The showdown will take place at a EU-Russia summit in the Russian city of Samara on May 18 and European diplomats are ready to read the riot act to Mr Putin over a growing number of disputes.

These include cuts to Lithuania's oil supply, dual pricing for international and domestic rail cargo, export duties on wood and a ban on Polish meat imports.

WTO membership is key to Russia's full participation in the international economy and to securing lucrative, investment-friendly trade deals with the EU and United States.

A bullet point on a secret negotiating memo seen by the Brussels newspaper European Voice says: "Make clear that EU is ready to support early conclusion of Russia's WTO accession but not at any price and bilateral problems or disregard for existing commitments will be major impediments.

"Recall that WTO accession is a precondition for further bilateral trade negotiations with the EU."

EU officials have said that a new "isolationist" Moscow is turning its back on the West.

Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, recently alarmed colleagues by saying that EU-Russia relations have reached a "level of misunderstanding or even mistrust we have not seen since the end of the Cold War".

Traditionally, the EU has been a supporter of tying Russia into multilateral trading rules. But many EU countries, led by new member states that were once part of the Soviet Union, are angry that Russia has reneged on promises, sparked new trade disputes and disrupted vital energy supplies to the West.

[RusIvan]

The European Union is threatening to block Russian membership of global free trade agreements unless President Vladimir Putin pledged to “de-escalate” a deepening crisis between Moscow and its neighbours. ==

I’m personally against Russia went to WTO. SO EU will do in my favor:).

[RusIvan]

Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, recently alarmed colleagues by saying that EU-Russia relations have reached a “level of misunderstanding or even mistrust we have not seen since the end of the Cold War”. ==

That is true. Mistrust is growing. Now the new adage in Russia wide spread “you lie as Eurounion”.

EU officials have said that a new “isolationist” Moscow is turning its back on the West. ==

It is the result of EU policy of double standards. Russia goes to Asia. China and India are better partners then Europe. At least they are honest.

[yankeedame]

I never heard of a Trade Bar but I have heard of a....