On 23 November 2010, Russia and the European Union agreed
upon the modalities of the Russian accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Joint Statement remarked that the negotiators of the Russian Federation and of the European Commission have concluded the bilateral talks on key outstanding elements in the accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO. The reached understanding complements the results of the bilateral negotiations concluded in 2004 with regard to important aspects of Russia’s export duty regime and railway fees.
"
After all these talks, we can say now we have practically resolved all the issues," Russian deputy premier Igor Shuvalov said after talks with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the commissioners for trade and foreign relations,
EUobserver reported.
