BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The United States and the European Union have blocked Belarus from joining the World Trade Organization. They claim that Belarus is unfit to be a member of the group because it was complicit in Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

Moscow has already been stripped of the privileged WTO trade treatment by G7 nations and their allies. Also known as “most favored nation”, this status allows for Russia to be hit with increased tariffs or banned entirely.

After President Alexander Lukashenko’s defeat in protests, which opponents claimed was fraudulent, the western group stopped work on Belarus’ WTO Accession Process.

On Thursday, the group stated in a WTO filing that it strongly condemned Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. It was supported by Belarus. Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation,” has used Belarusian territory to launch its attack.

The filing stated that Belarus was condemned for complicity with Russia’s aggression. This is against the principles and values of the WTO as well as a rules-based system.

We have concluded that Belarus does not meet the requirements for WTO membership. According to the filing, we won’t consider it for further consideration.

This group includes Albania, Australia and Canada as well as Canada, Japan.