Ukraine on Thursday moved two steps closer toward playing a greater role in the global economy. First, the European Union said that it has cleared the final hurdles in talks about Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization. Second, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that the EU will soon open talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Ukraine. The EU had been the last trading partner to have reservations about Ukraine's WTO membership. "Today's agreement clears the way for Ukraine fully to join the world trading system," Mandelson said, said of the talks about its WTO accession. "This is the first step toward greater Ukrainian integration with the global and the European economy."
Journal of Commerce
