Thirteen years after Russia began trying to join the World Trade Organization, the United States has ended their attempts to block Russia's membership. According to US trade representative Susan Schwab, "We have an agreement in principle and are finalizing the details. This agreement will mark an important step in Russia attaining membership in the WTO." She added that the deal "is a clear indication of Russia's efforts to participate fully in and benefit from the rules-based global trading system." Presidents Bush and Putin plan to sign the agreement Saturday, when they are both in Hanoi for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. In 2002, Putin announced that "Russia today is the only major world economy outside the WTO—the only one. Staying outside this organization, outside this process is dangerous and stupid."