U.S. May Grant Ukraine Market Economy Status By The End Of The Year.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Eric Stewart, said at a press conference in Kyiv yesterday, that the U.S. has received an application from the Ukrainian government and will likely grant the country market economy status by January 2006.  On Thursday, Stewart met with several members of the Ukrainian government to discuss Ukraine?s possible ascension into the World Trade Organization. Stewart said that they also discussed ways the two countries could improve bilateral trade. Concorde Capital: Gaining market economy status would be a huge boost for Ukraine and its ambitions for western integration