Soviet Union And GATT

After the World War II, in order to promote the development of internationaltrade, the us-led western countries established GATT. At that time, they did notexclude the Soviet Union from entering GATT. Under the guidance of the wrongtheory of Stalin, the Soviet Union thought of GATT as the tool of The us-led westerncountries which would help them get world domination. The Soviet Union alsothought that it can develop without economic connection with capitalist countries. Sothe Soviet Union took an attitude of resisting GATT and established CMEA with theeastern European countries. But along with the development of the post-war politicaland economic situation, the relationship between eastern countries and westerncountries was eased. In particular, as many eastern European countries began to getclose to GATT, the Soviet Union’s attitude toward GATT gradually changed. AfterGorbachev came to power, he started the reform of the Soviet Union’s old regime. Inthe reform of foreign economic and trade, making Soviet Union enter GATT becameinevitable. The Soviet Union began to seek admission to GATT. Because of the greatgap between the foreign trade system of the Soviet Union and the requirements ofGATT, and the background of the on-going cold war, the Soviet Union did not receiveany positive response from the western countries at first. However, as the Sovietunion showed more positive will of reform and the opposition between the Sovietunion and America came to an end, more and more western countries began tosupport the Soviet union’s application to become the observer of GATT. In the end,the Soviet Union became the observer of GATT. However, because of the dissolutionof the Soviet Union, the progress of becoming the official member of GATT wasterminated. After GATT turning into WTO, Russia, as the main successor of theSoviet Union, opened a new chapter to join the WTO.