On December 16, Russia was formally admitted to the World Trade Organization, WTO. The country now has 220 days to ratify its accession package, which it is expected to do on June 15, 2012.It is not yet known how much the Russian roundwood export duties will be lowered after the country’s membership in WTO. According to a spokesman of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, the export duty for spruce and pine is expected to decrease by around 50 percent, and for birch and aspen by approximately 75 percent.The pulp and paper industry in the Nordic countries some years ego used to import large quantities of Russian roundwood. Any immediate effect on the Nordic pulp wood market is not expected after the WTO acceptance of Russia’s membership. However, in the long run, the decision will have an impact on the balance on the Nordic market and give new possibilities for Nordic pulp and paper producers.