Russia set to join World Trade Organisation

16 December 2011 Last updated at 05:14 ET Help

Russia will finally join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Friday at a ceremony in Switzerland, after 18 years negotiating its membership.

The Swiss brokered a deal between Russia and Georgia earlier this year that removed the last obstacle to Russia's accession.

Georgia had tried to block Russia's WTO entry since the two countries fought a short war in 2008.

Russia is by far the biggest economy to join the global trade body.

Brian Milligan reports.

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