Min sees WTO deciding on Russian farm subsidies by end of May

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is expected to make a final decision by the end of May on the level of agricultural subsidies in Russia, Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said.

He said Russia wanted to provide U.S. $9 billion in subsidies to farmers per year after its accession to the WTO.

Meanwhile, Gordeyev said earlier this month that the Cairns group, an association of leading agricultural exporters, wanted Russia to provide only about $3.2 billion per year in subsidies, which is the same as the level of farm subsides in the country in 2004-2006.

Russia has signed WTO protocols with all WTO members that wished to hold bilateral talks, excluding Georgia and Saudi Arabia. Russia also has to complete multilateral WTO talks.