U.S. and Ukraine conclude bilateral negotiations regarding Ukraine's Accession to the WTO

By Aussiegirl

This should be helpful in stabilizing Ukraine's economic outlook and hopefully keep Ukraine moving in the direction of integration with Western Europe and western economies in general, even if the elections do not result in another Yushchenko victory in March.

Here's the text of a press release by the U.S. Trade Representative:

Office of the United States Trade Representative (STR)
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, March 1, 2006

NEW DELHI - The United States and Ukraine have concluded bilateral
negotiations on market access issues related to Ukraine's World Trade
Organization (WTO) accession. Trade Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk will
join U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in Washington on March 6,
2006 to formally sign the agreement.

"This agreement marks a milestone for both countries in our bilateral
trade relations. It confirms Ukraine's commitment to broad-based
reform and economic liberalization. It also demonstrates Ukraine's
resolve to join the international trading system," said U.S. Trade
Representative Rob Portman.

"As a result of these negotiations, we can expect greater bilateral
cooperation on economic issues, and a strong boost to Ukraine's
efforts to complete the accession negotiations."