Russia warns of 'WTO death' if no trade solution at G20

Russia today warned of the imminent "death" of the World Trade Organisation if developed and developing nations don't come to an agreement at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Australia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate at the G20 summit in Brisbane on November 15-16.
His representative at the summit -- known as the G20 sherpa -- said the gathering will address a number of top issues like trade, stressing that the interests of developing nations would have to be taken into account.
"The process of negotiations within the framework of the WTO have practically ground to a halt," said G20 sherpa Svetlana Lukash, adding that several key decisions of the global trade body have not been implemented.

She told reporters that it was necessary to find a solution that would take into account concerns of both developed and developing nations.
"If we don't find a way out of this dead-end at the G20 summit this could jeopardise the entire system of multilateral trade."

"In essence, it would mean... Well... The death of the WTO," Lukash said. "It is a very important question."
"We are foreseeing rather heated discussions on this topic," she added.
She also said Moscow was concerned about the stalled reform of the International Monetary Fund.
"The most important thing for us is the reform of the IMF, a problem which has not yet been solved within the framework of the G20."

She accused the United States of hampering the reform.
"Not only does it thwart the renewal of the IMF in line with today's realities which have seen a significant rise in the role of emerging economies, it also prevents the decisions to double the IMF capital from coming into force," Lukash said.
She warned that Russia and its BRICS partners would offer alternative proposals if a solution is not found by the end of the year.
Along with Russia, BRICS include emerging market nations Brazil, India, China and South Africa.