PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                         ........................................ Contact: Ekrem Sarper
November 10, 2006                                                                                 ........................................ .Tel: 202-378-7968

U.S. Service Industry Supports U.S. Agreement on
Russia’s WTO Accession

( WASHINGTON DC) – The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) today welcomed the announcement that the U.S. has reached substantial agreement on the bilateral agreement with Russia, allowing it to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Michael Ducker, Chairman of CSI, and President of FedEx Express International, said that “on balance the agreement offers significant market opening commitments which will provide new commercial opportunities for U.S. services suppliers .” Ducker thanked the President and the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Susan Schwab for their continued insistence on a commercially meaningful agreement.

Under this agreement, Russia has committed to improve U.S. service companies’ market access, and provide national treatment in most services sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, audio-visual services, distribution, computer and related services, express delivery, environmental services and professional services. Russia’s entry into the WTO obligates it to ensure the application of free and fair trade rules, which will benefit the global trading system.

“CSI looks forward to working with USTR in the next, multilateral phase of the negotiations to address remaining issues in Russia’s accession. When this phase is completed, CSI will work hard to ensure Congressional passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), a prerequisite for US business to be able to take advantage of the liberalization achieved,” said Ducker.

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