Geneva — Russia has signed a deal with Georgia seen as the final hurdle to membership in the World Trade Organization.

Russian and Georgian negotiators inked the agreement Wednesday at the WTO headquarters in Geneva.

Neither side spoke to reporters after the signing.

The deal foresees a neutral company conducting customs checks on all trade between the two nations, including the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Trade officials say there are now no major obstacles to Russiaformally joining the trade body in December after 18 years of talks.