Russia's Accession to the WTO - What Does It Mean?

On the 11th November 2011 the Russian and WTO working parties agreed terms to pave the way for Russia's acceptance to the World Trade Organisation. Russian lawmakers approved membership on the 22nd August 2012.

The path to membership has, to put it lightly, been arduous. Original negotiations started in 1993 and were ongoing ever since.

Following his successful presidential election in 2000, Vladimir Putin got behind the accession plans and was a key player in the eventual outcome. He displayed his frustrations more than once at the negotiations and how "the rules of the game" were changed to suit different WTO partners.

Although the WTO is ostensibly an apolitical global trade organisation, the delays and barriers that Russia has dealt with in recent years have been politically charged.

Prior to the agreement, Vladimir Putin said in a recent Chinese TV interview;

"We want to join the World Trade Organisation. This is our goal and our objective. In our opinion this would have a generally positive impact on the Russian economy, mostly because it will increase the level of trust in the economy, and on the administrative and legal procedures within the economy. By the way, we have fully adjusted our domestic legislation to WTO requirements. We have done this. We have also settled the major problems with all of the key partners. I think that it has become more of a political issue."

He was less diplomatic when interviewed on Russian TV when he lambasted the EU and USA for procrastination and for causing deliberate delays to Russian accession. This back drop is against open hostility to Russia by some US lawmakers who wrote to the US WTO Trade Representative on the 10th November about their 'significant concerns' and demanding that Russia display "transparent, substantive and prompt action" in its' adherence to WTO obligations.

"Substantive" could be used as a Russian accolade but neither 'transparency' nor 'prompt' are virtues I see much of in the Federation.

As an organisation the WTO supervises and liberalises international trade, regulating trade between member countries and providing the negotiating and trade agreements platform.

Importantly for Russian success and her ability to attract fresh inward investment, the WTO enforces dispute resolution aimed at member's adherence to WTO agreements.

The WTO has 153 members and represents more than 97% of the world's population so Russia's absence since the fall of the USSR has been anachronistic. With a $1.5 trillion GDP and as the world's largest oil and gas producer Russia should have been in the WTO years earlier.

Membership of the WTO will not change the business environment or the high risk assessment given to Russia by foreign investors. What it should do is add impetus to the significant reform and efficiency drives and reflect the seriousness the Russian government places on combating inefficiency, corruption and cronyism.

Look at the closure of hundreds of customs posts, the dismissal of many customs officers and the opening of new import facilities to promote faster, fairer growth plus the billions of dollars attracted from the auto and pharmaceutical sectors in the last 12 months.

There is no doubt that membership is good for Russia. It brings much-needed capital to the Russian markets. Strained relations with the West followed the 2008 five-day Georgian conflict and, in the seven months following hostilities, investors pulled $300 billion out of Russia. In 2011 further outflow reached $70 billion against a $36 billion forecast by the Russian central bank.

According to the World Bank, Russian WTO membership will bring both sustainable and incremental annual economic growth of 2% and this success is measured against the backdrop of shrinkage and uncertainty in the global markets. Russia joining the WTO is the 'good news' the world markets are looking for following the WTO failure at Doha, the incessant Euro-zone doom and unremitting, depressing news from the US markets.

The consensus to join the WTO (the final barrier fell when Russia and Georgia signed an agreement approving Russia's WTO entry on November 9 in Geneva, after both agreed on international monitoring on the disputed crossings with South Ossetia and Abkhazia) came only weeks after Vladimir Putin confirmed his return to the Russian Presidency on September 24th.

Following this consensus the rouble was the strongest performing of the top 25 currencies, having gained over 5% against the US dollar. The Russian stock market gained over 15% in what has been the world's biggest jump and Russian oil jumped 7% in the same period.

Whether WTO accession is good in the immediate term for smaller or inefficient industries is another story. Fears are rife that cheap imports will flood the market and 'small' Russian industry will suffer. Quite who and what these 'small' industries are, I do not know. Russia today is a huge importer of consumer goods and distributors may find they have fresh competition on their hands but the absence of a cottage industry begs the question.

Russia exported over $400 billion in 2010 predominantly to the EU, Ukraine, Turkey, China and Belarus. WTO membership opens up new markets where historically Russian products have been blocked. Russian steel and iron manufacturers have been vocal supporters of Russian accession and will be major beneficiaries as trade barriers are lowered and Russian products allowed access, if not actually welcomed to the new markets. General imports were valued at nearly $250 billion

Maxim Medvedkov, the chief Russian negotiator to the WTO, said "More than one third of our GDP is made abroad... we are seventh in the world in terms of exports. We need a stable predictable instrument to develop trade".

European companies are initially best positioned to take advantage from Russia's WTO entry. EU business prevails in Russia's external trade and has been integrated for longer than other blocs. In the short term U.S. opportunities are constrained because of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, but as Jackson-Vanik violates WTO membership, Russia will have to be released very quickly. For all the U.S. political blustering and anti Russian sentiment, Jackson-Vanik will go by default or U.S. companies will miss opportunities.

Should You Seek Out Low Cost Auto Insurance?

Together with the expense of auto insurance turning into far more and more of an issue for the average American loved ones, you'll find growing numbers of individuals searching for low cost automotive insurance. Even though it really is achievable to locate low cost car insurance, the problem remains, is it worth acquiring? Every person understands that auto insurance organizations usually are not all equal. low cost auto insurance is great when coughing up the bill, but make an error on the firm you pick and you could locate that the cheap auto insurance policy which you identified may possibly transform into a pain.

Inexpensive auto insurance may possibly not turn out to be so appealing when creating a claim. So in case you have identified a discount automotive insurance broker do not just take the least expensive quote which you get. You'll want to discover just a little in regards to the insurance company which is offering the low cost auto insurance rates. And there is techniques to minimize the expense of one's car insurance even with all the finest of organizations. Listed below are some suggestions for those seeking cheap car insurance to assist minimize the price of auto insurance without having inhibiting other points.

Here are some suggestions which will enable you to obtain low cost auto insurance. Appear at your deductible quantity. This can be the quantity which you pay initial out of any claim. The expense of your policy is straight associated to this quantity. Many people, particularly people that have had their insurance coverage for a lengthy time, have never regarded as regardless of whether they should differ their insurance deductible. For those who have a fantastic driving record and are ready to increase the risk of paying a bigger quantity in the event of a (hopefully unlikely) claim you are able to save funds by rising your deductible. Have a appear at the sort of vehicle you drive. Particular kinds of vehicles attract higher auto insurance rates. Vehicles including sports vehicles and also selected models and makes which are prime theft contenders cost a lot more to insure. If you're getting a car then find out which makes and models they are just before you acquire. Drive carefully.

Even though it sounds a bit trite to say it, your vehicle insurance price can be an element of the threat profile. You won't get low cost auto insurance for those who have had three speeding fines and two accidents inside the final year. These issues are all considered and you need to be mindful with the way you drive. It all adds up on your bill. You can find huge secure driver discounts available. Thinking about installing safety and anti theft devices within your vehicle. Once more these influence your threat profile. In case you have an auto that is safer and less at danger of theft it really should be less expensive to insure. And when you have an automobile with specific safety devices now verify that your insurance organization is conscious of those, if not inform them.

Appear at your policy with regards to renewal time, don't just pay. There are some factors that you can differ within your policy that will impact the cost. Often there are some points there which duplicate other insurance which you might have which will be done away with. Be important, search very carefully and ask questions about these prior to you renew your policy. Have a search at who your other insurers are. Many insurers supply a price cut for numerous policies. Should you insure your house with a selected organization then ring them up and find out if they do auto insurance. Get a quote from them. Find out what discounts they supply. Uncover a great online discount auto insurance broker before renewing.

The net is often a fantastic resource. Use it. You will find all kinds of cheap insurance brokers online exactly where you'll be able to get quick quotes from a wide range of firms. Don't just settle for the identical business you constantly use. Auto insurance rates vary all of the time. Constantly get comparable quotes prior to renewing any policy. So if you're within the market place for low cost auto insurance there's some concepts for you. Do not just accept that car insurance is always prohibitively pricey, get around and do some thing about it.

Quick Auto Insurance - How Long Before I'm Insured

Motorists are generally responsible to have insurance on their car, but the true cost of car insurance is far higher than what you will find from an instant auto insurance quote. Obtaining an insurance quote can be as easy as a phone call to various companies, an Internet inquiry, or talking directly with your current insurance agent.

Personal Information Needed

Getting your instant auto insurance quote requires answering questions regarding your driving history. The agent will need to know the coverage you want. He or she will also need some personal information for any drivers who live in your household.

• All driver's names, driver's license number, birth date, sex, and marital status
• Driving history, for each person, including moving violations and accidents with date's
• Mileage each person drives
• Year of vehicle
• Cost of vehicle
• Vehicle identification number
• Special safety features

There are several important decisions you need to make regarding auto insurance before obtaining a quote. This includes the types of coverage you want, the amount of coverage you need, and researching the requirements in your state. The following gives you some basic information about obtaining an instant auto insurance quote from any company.

• Liability
• Collision
• GAP
• Comprehensive
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist

Liability Auto Insurance Coverage

Each state has their own laws and regulations as to the types and amounts of coverage, which they require drivers to obtain. For most states, the minimum coverage is liability. Liability only covers property damages or personal injuries that are the drivers fault. Liability insurance does not cover damages to your own vehicle if you are at fault and in most cases to passengers in your auto.

Before you drive your auto off the lot, it is important and usually mandatory, to have acceptable liability insurance. In some states, it is illegal for anyone to drive an auto without coverage, even if they have coverage on their own vehicle. You can receive an instant auto insurance quote, pay the first premium, and drive only from the time the liability coverage begins.

Collision Auto Insurance Coverage

Collision is generally a requirement of your lender when you purchase auto insurance, and this coverage names them as a lienholder. This means if you have an accident that totals your vehicle, then they receive payment first. This does not always cover the full price of your auto, even if you just drove it off the lot. It is necessary for you to pay your deductible before the insurance company releases their portion.

GAP Coverage

The GAP coverage protects you from the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what the collision coverage will pay. This is significant to stress when you obtain your auto insurance quote. GAP coverage is definitely consequential when you purchase a new vehicle. Otherwise, you can be responsible for thousands of dollars and have no vehicle.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage

Many lenders require you have comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive will pay for theft or damage to your car from vandalism, flooding, fires, and even striking a deer. For most people, this is a standard part of their insurance coverage.

Auto Insurance Coverage for Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist

Unfortunately, it is all too often that a driver does not have enough damage to cover you, your family, or your passengers. In order to be fully covered it is safest to obtain both types of insurance coverage. Sometimes the cost of a lengthy hospital stay can easily extend beyond the coverage the other person's insurance will pay.

There are many other options for insurance coverage. Your agent can give their recommendations for what coverage is optimal for you. An agent will need to ask questions to help determine what company can give you the foremost coverage for the least money. As you are discussing coverage, they will not discriminate in on things like race, religion, occupation, or place of residence.

Thingsto Know about Auto Insurance

As you can see auto insurance coverage is very intricate, so you obtain what you need, while staying within your budget. Being a safe driver does help reduce the cost of your insurance. It can take many years of receiving a ticket or being in an accident before your costs begin reducing. Safe drivers who have no tickets have the ability to obtain the most coverage for the least amount of money.

If you have never had insurance before or have been on someone else's insurance as long as you have no tickets, accidents, or outstanding insurance claims getting an instant auto insurance quote can be quite simple. However, for those who fall into a higher risk, your insurance agent will be able to recommend ways for you to save costs while having the best coverage.

If you have left out a speeding ticket, your quote can be lower initially, than if you remember to tell them that you received a ticket. The problem can be that if you pay a lesser amount, you will be responsible to pay the difference, but they can cancel the coverage.

Additionally, the insurance company can cancel your insurance if they normally do not insure other drivers who had the same problem. Furthermore, the cancellation will make it difficult to get insurance from another insurance company. The information you give does determine your premium, and if the company will consider underwriting the coverage. Some discounts can apply depending on where you park the vehicle, average miles you drive, and any safety features.

Soliciting competitive quotes is essential to receiving the best price possible. Each insurance company has their own underwriting rules and rates. Spending time doing the necessary research can save you hundreds of dollars. However, some websites are set up to distribute your information to various insurance companies so you might not receive the instant auto insurance quote you are looking for at the time.

Read over some review of various companies, especially those who give you very low quotes. Some seem like a good choice initially, but have drastic increases when it comes time for renewal. Some companies sell insurance directly to consumers, and others sell through local agents. The more you know the better your decision can be when you receive an instant auto insurance quote if you have any questions, a qualified agent can help you right away.

Tips To Choosing The Right Auto Insurance Company

Are you in the market for better auto insurance rates? Or, perhaps you are simply looking for a new auto insurance company? Whatever your reason for shopping around, now is the perfect time to request auto insurance quotes from several companies who are more than eager to earn your patronage. In fact, many companies will compete for your business by way of auto insurance rates.

Your first step to choosing the right auto insurance company is to consider the type of coverage that you need. For instance, if you have a less than perfect driving record or past credit problems, you may want to compare auto insurance costs from companies who specialize in giving customers a second chance to earn discount auto insurance. If you own more than one vehicle, you may find that some auto insurance companies will offer cheap auto insurance rates in exchange for becoming your exclusive provider. In other words, transferring all of your policies to one company may result in discount auto insurance at its best.

The next step in choosing an auto insurance company is to look for one that rewards customers based on a good driving record. One of the keys to a respectable auto insurance company is flexibility when it comes to coverage selection and incentives to promote better and more responsible driving. In addition to comparing auto insurance rates and plans, take the time to review the auto insurance company's policy on discount auto insurance rates for those with a safe driving record.

It's important to realize that auto insurance rates vary from one area to the next. For instance, Pennsylvania auto insurance may be less expensive than New York auto insurance or vice versa. Regardless of where you live, however, most will agree that auto insurance is expensive and it's essential that you compare auto insurance rates to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. A good auto insurance company, for instance, will offer various deductibles, competitive auto insurance rates and some type of coverage that allows for the temporary payment of medical bills in the event that you ever become involved in an auto accident. If you are injured as a result of another motorist's negligence, many auto insurance companies will pay for your medical bills and later seek reimbursement from the faulty individual(s). This is a great relief to many, especially those who may not otherwise have health insurance.

As a final thought to choosing an auto insurance company that offers the best auto insurance rate, free auto insurance quotes and/or a flexible program that can be customized to fit your individual needs, simply take the time to shop around and compare auto insurance from more than one company prior to making a final decision.

The information in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial or insurance advice relating to auto insurance quotes, discount auto insurance or auto insurance rates. For additional information or to receive an auto insurance quote, contact a local auto insurance company.

Technology, Discounts, Customer Education to Drive Telematics Auto Insurance

Insurers are recognizing the importance of discounts to penetrate U.S. and Canadian markets. But this calls for the combination of product features.

Something seriously required in favor of the auto insurance policy holders in United States of America and Canada. UBI adoption is growing at a frenetic pace in North America according to the figures released by BI Research. Market watchers are keenly observing the growth of auto insurance and the factors that can pose challenges to auto insurance industry. Figures depict a rosy picture. Telematics based auto insurance growth rose from 4.1% in 2015 to 6% in 2016 in North America. The growth is pegged at 19.2% in 2019. What is the role of telematics expertise in expanding market reach? Can discounts increase the subscriber base? Is there any pitfall? Let us explore.

Insurers are constantly on the lookout for cost effective ways of doing business with telematics. But convincing policy holders seem to be their challenge. Yesterday's know how is passe with newer and sophisticated knowledge developing on ICT front. Data collection and customer engagement hold the key for success in the wired world today. Aspiring policy holders can be convinced by the insurers with cutting edge technologies like: Driving data capture, direct marketing channel, Roadside assistance (NSD Partner), Geo analytics and gamification to mention a few. The millennial and Gen Z are technophile demography for the telematics market.

Technical features are for risk mitigation and discounts are for cost reduction. If both factors are combined market penetration is easier. At this point an expert is taking a balanced view. Donald Light the director of Celent, a research and consulting firm, is of the opinion that a combination of both discounts and surcharges can provide a bright future for telematics in Canada. He was sharing his view during 'Insurance Telematics Canada 2016' in Toronto. We all know surcharges are additional premiums against risky driving behavior. And Light suggest this to change the driver perception on their driving.

What perception Light wants to change? People pay a price for a product or service on their perception on quality. The same theory is applicable to one's perception towards driving. If one thinks he is a 'better driver' and not an average driver which he actually is, then encouraging them to implement telematics mobile app to avail discounts will become a demanding task. Because his self esteem comes in the way of enhancing his driving behavior and accepting drive score as ultimate criteria for improving his driving. It is at this very stage only education is needed to change perceptions.

The very purpose of UBI is to reward the well behaving drivers on criteria like speed, acceleration, phone use etc. Vast part of the population are mobile and it makes sense for them to implement telematics mobile app on their mobile devices to mitigate accidents as well as earning drive score to avail policy premium discounts. Education is needed to change wrong perceptions of drivers to accept UBI as fair and to understand what standard driving behavior is.

Education should be extended on ensuring cyber security as telematics mobile apps are also prone to cyber attacks. This should be seen in the context where 60% of cars and trucks are going to be connected on net by 2017. This means tailored telematics services should address cyber security issue also to gain more acceptance in the market.

Switching to telematics is a good option; it is also promising for the insurance sector that wants to expand its reach. Cutting edge technical features, discounts for drive scorecards as well as surcharges for errant driving behavior can increase the acceptability of mobile telematics thereby attracting new mobile subscribers. If these issues are addressed, auto insurance market penetration will become easy.

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