16/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Russia to reduce car import duty when it joins the WTO. The anti-crisis measure introduced by the Russian government in 2009, an import duty on cars, will be reduced when it joins the WTO, explained Russian negotiator at the WTO, Maxime Medvedkov, in Geneva last week. The duty will be reduced from 30% of the purchase price to 25% when Russia joins the WTO and then to 15% over the next seven years. The rise in import duty was criticised by the European Commission, which argued that it flew in the face of Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organisation. The accession process has speeded up this year with the signing of agreements at the WTO on goods and services market access with the United States and also with the European Union. (E.H. /transl.fl)