N° 96 — October/November 2019

Accessions Strategic Objectives Accession Strategic Focus  Domestic reform instrument  Systemic update Comoros: In preparation for the resumption of 16 October, Chief Negotiator Vladimir  Market access expansion the Working Party, Comoros officially Serpikov, participated in the Conference on: submitted the following negotiating inputs for "Greater Coherence in Global Economic  International cooperation for trade circulation to the Working Party: the replies to Policymaking: the case of WTO accession", Members' questions from the 4th Working jointly organised by the WTO, the IMF and the Inside this issue: Party meeting held in March 2018; the revised in Washington, D.C. On 28-29 Legislative Action Plan; the revised State October, the Chief Negotiator and his team • Accession Strategic Focus: Comoros, , Trading Questionnaire; the issue-specific action were in Geneva to advance bilateral , and Serbia plans; and draft legislation. The Secretariat is discussions with selected Members. • Accession State of Play: working with Comoros to update the draft  LDCs Accessions: , South Sudan Report of the Working Party for circulation by th and Sudan end-November. The 5 Working Party meeting is envisaged for early 2020.  Non-LDC Accessions: , Iraq and At the invitation of the Government, the WTO • Expression of interest: Curaçao will attend a Conference of Development • Technical Assistance and Outreach activities: Partners for Comoros (Conférence des partenaires au développement de l’Union des  Book presentation on Recently Acceded Comores), taking place on 2 - 3 December in WTO Members by Mr. Kenji Takamiya, , to raise the profile of the WTO accession 7 October 2019 process at the highest political levels of the  2019 Public Forum: Session “On the Road new government. Chief Negotiator Vladimir Serpikov, Washington, D.C. — to Nur-Sultan: Eurasian Perspectives on the 16 October 2019 Future of the Multilateral Trading System”, Belarus: In preparation for the next Working 8 October 2019 Party meeting, Minsk submitted the following Bosnia and Herzegovina: Following its negotiating inputs: the replies to Members'  Trade for Peace through WTO Accessions: circulation on 25 September, the draft ITA questions from the 12th Working Party meeting Presentation of Global Peace Index 2019, Schedule of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on 12 July; Agriculture Supporting Tables 9 October 2019 positively considered by the ITA Committee at and the accompanying "Questions and  WTO-IMF-World Bank Coherence “Greater its meeting on 31 October. Since no objections Replies"; a revised Legislative Action Plan and had been received, the Schedule is now Coherence in Global Economic Policy- copies of legislation; and a draft subsidies deemed approved. The ITA Schedule will be Making: The Case of WTO Accession”, notification. The Secretariat is preparing the incorporated into the draft Goods Schedule Washington DC, 16 October 2019 next revision of the draft Report of the following the consolidation of all bilateral  Geneva Peace Building Week, 8 November Working Party for circulation by mid- market access agreements concluded and 2019 December. Following the circulation of all signed between Bosnia and Herzegovina and  Paris Peace Forum, 12-13 November 2019 negotiating inputs, the Chairperson of the WTO Members. Sarajevo is yet to conclude Working Party, Ambassador Kemal Madenoğlu  Training Course on Goods Schedules for th bilateral market access negotiations with one (Turkey) will consult on the date of the 13 WTO Accession, 18-22 November 2019 Member. meeting of the Working Party. th  8 Round Table, Moscow, Serbia: Chief Negotiator Olivera Jocić visited 4-6 December 2019 The Delegation of Belarus remains actively Geneva in the week of 7 October to advance rd engaged with Members, the Secretariat and  3 Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions Serbia's bilateral market access negotiations partners outside the Working Party cycle. On for the Greater Horn of , with selected Members. 4-7 February 2020 • WTO Accession Progress Tracker and Evolving Work Programme • Accessions Anniversary Dates — Article XII Members — November • Accessions Toolbox

Accessions Newsletter Team:  Maika Oshikawa, Editor-in-chief  Mariam Soumaré, Editor  Chidinma Onyebuchi, Co-Editor  Souda Tandara-Stenier, Editorial Coordinator, page layout design, photographer 8th Informal Group on Accessions — 30 October 2019

with contributions from Accessions Division staff

1

N° 96 — October/November 2019

Accession State of Play — LDCs

Ethiopia: Ethiopia remains committed to an On 8 November, Chief Negotiator Mamo Mihretu early resumption of the Accession Working informed the Secretariat that all the negotiating Party, according to the State Minister of inputs, including the market access offers on The Accessions Division of the WTO Finance, Dr Eyob Tekalign at the Conference goods and services, would be submitted to the would like to congratulate H.E. Abiy on: "Greater Coherence in Global Economic Secretariat shortly for circulation to the Working Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Policymaking: the case of WTO accession" on Party. The 4th Working Party meeting is envisaged for his recognition as the Nobel Peace 16 October in Washington D.C. The State for January 2020. Prize winner for 2019. We appreciate Minister stressed that Ethiopia sees WTO Prime Minister Abiy's efforts towards accession as an anchor for and an extension of South Sudan: A joint ITC/WTO national outreach fostering peace and prosperity in the domestic reforms. and technical workshop will be organized in Juba, Horn of Africa through trade integration. following the formation of a transitional government which is now being delayed. This workshop would also assist South Sudan in the preparation of negotiating inputs for the next Working Party meeting, envisaged for 2020. On the margins of the workshop, a visit of the Chairperson of the Working Party, Ambassador Mohammed Haqjo (Afghanistan), is also expected to take place.

Sudan: The Chairperson of the Working Party, Mr. Katsuro Nagai (), plans to visit Khartoum to explore how the accession process can support Chief Negotiator Mamo Mihretu, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia — the new government in reforming its economy, 8 November 2019 following the formation of a 3-year transitional government.

H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali © https://pmo.gov.et/pm/ Accession State of Play — Non-LDCs

Azerbaijan: In preparation for the next Uzbekistan: Following the circulation of the Working Party meeting, Azerbaijan submitted Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime Expression of Interest: Curaçao negotiating inputs, including: the replies to (MFTR) in July, Uzbekistan submitted additional Members' questions from the 14th Working documents, including: the Information on Party meeting held in July 2017, five pieces of Customs Valuation Agreement, Legislative Curaçao: On 31 October, Curaçao, a legislation, a State Trading Questionnaire, Action Plan, Checklists of Illustrative TBT and constituent country in the Kingdom of the updated Agriculture Supporting Tables, and a SPS Issues, and Information on Import Licensing , submitted its request for list of applied import and export duties. Procedures. The submission of additional accession pursuant to Article XII of the documents, including the replies to Members' Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO. The Secretariat is reviewing these inputs with questions on the MFTR, is expected shortly for In accordance with established practice, the a view to updating the draft Report of the circulation. Uzbekistan is keen to resume the Chairperson of the General Council, Working Party for circulation to the Working Working Party as early as possible. Ambassador Sunanta Kangvalkulkij () Party in December. will conduct consultations with WTO Members On 7 October, a delegation headed by Mr. before the request is placed on the agenda of Iraq: The Working Party Chairperson, Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Minister of the General Council for consideration and Ambassador Omar Hilale (), who is Investments and Foreign Trade and Chief decision. currently based in New York, visited Geneva Negotiator for WTO Accession of Uzbekistan on the week of 7 October. He met with Ms. visited Geneva to participate in the World Mayada Abdulhadi, Deputy Permanent Cotton Day. Mr. Abidov also met with the Representative of Iraq to the WTO to discuss Working Party Chairperson, Ambassador Paik the state of play of Iraq's accession and the (Korea) and the Secretariat to exchange views High-Level Conference on WTO Accession in on the resumption of the Working Party. Baghdad, jointly organized with the World Bank, aimed at relaunching Iraq's accession process, following the receipt of negotiating inputs.

Curaçao map

Meeting between DDG Alan Wolff and Mr Badriddin Abidov Ambassador Omar Hilale (Morocco) and Delegation of (Uzbekistan) - 7 October 2019 Iraq — 7 October 2019

2

N° 96 — October/November 2019

Technical Assistance and Outreach Activities

Book Presentation on Recently Acceded WTO Members by Mr. Kenji Takamiya, 7 October 2019

On 7 October, the Accessions Division hosted a The book, published by Palgrave Macmillan in presentation of the recently published book 2019, sheds light on trade policies of developing entitled "Recently Acceded Members of the economies that joined the WTO after its : Membership, the establishment in 1995. Its detailed case studies Doha Development Agenda, and Dispute on , China, Viet Nam and Ecuador Settlement" by Mr. Kenji Takamiya from the examine their engagement in accession and Asian Development Bank. Doha Round negotiations and, where relevant, dispute settlement at the WTO.

Mr. Kenji Takamiya

2019 Public Forum: “On the Road to Nur-Sultan: Eurasian Perspectives on the Future of the Multilateral Trading System”, 8 October 2019

On 8 October, the Permanent Mission of The session, moderated by Mr. Christian and the Accessions Division Pauletto, Professor at the International organized a session entitled “On the Road to Nur University in Geneva (IUG), gathered -Sultan: Eurasian Perspectives on the Future of representatives of the WTO, including WTO the Multilateral Trading System”. The discussion Deputy Director-General Alan Wm. Wolff, focused on the contributions of the Eurasian Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhanova (Kazakhstan), economies to the multilateral trading system, Ms. Ekaterina Mayorova, Director of the lessons learned from Eurasian countries' Department for Trade Negotiations, Ministry of accessions to the WTO and their membership Economic Development of the Russian experiences; and topical issues in preparation for Federation and, Ambassador Yury Ambrazevich MC12, including WTO Reforms. (Belarus), as well as Mr Paolo Garzotti, Deputy Panellist —2019 Public Forum Head of the Permanent Mission of the to the WTO.

Trade for Peace through WTO Accessions: Global Peace Index 2019 – Reflections from the Bottom, 9 October 2019

On 9 October, Mr. Serge Stroobants of the Mohammed, Deputy Permanent Representative Institute for Economics and Peace presented the and Chargé d'affaires at the Permanent Mission latest publication on the Global Peace Index of the Republic of the Sudan in Geneva, reflected 2019 (available on this link: http:// on the ways in which trade could be used as an visionofhumanity.org/reports/). instrument for peace in their respective countries. Following his presentation, Mr. Tamim Baiou, Chargé d'affaires, a.i., at the Permanent Mission Global Peace Index—Presentation by Mr Serge of in Geneva and Ambassador Osman Stroobants

WTO-IMF-World Bank Coherence "Greater Coherence in Global Economic Policy-Making: The Case of WTO Accession", Washington D.C., 16 October 2019

On 16 October, the WTO organized a Conference WTO Members. Presentations were made by on "Greater Coherence in Global Economic Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Policy-Making: The Case of WTO Accession", in Division, WTO; Mr. Bjorn Rother, Advisor, Washington D.C., on the margins of the Annual Middle East and Central Asia Department, Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. IMF; Mr. Martin Kaufman, Assistant Director, Strategy, Policy and Review Department, IMF; This conference, organized within the Ms Caroline Freund, Director, International framework of the WTO-IMF-World Bank Trade Department, World Bank; Ambassador coherence mandate, provided a platform to Vladimir Serpikov, Chief Negotiator for WTO discuss issues of common policy interest to the Accession, Belarus; and Dr. Eyob Tekalign, three institutions in the context of WTO State Minister of Finance and member of the accessions and to explore the scope for WTO Accession Committee, Ethiopia. heightened cooperation at the country level. The issues raised and discussed at the The conference, which was moderated by WTO Conference will be reflected in the thematic Deputy Director-General Alan Wm. Wolff, was section of the 2019 DG Annual Report on WTO attended by over 60 participants, including from WTO-IMF-World Bank Conference on Coherence, Accessions. Washington, DC — 16 October 2019 the trade and country teams of the IMF and the World Bank working with acceding governments; representatives of acceding governments and

3

N° 96 — October/November 2019

Technical Assistance and Outreach Activities (Cont’d)

2019 Geneva Peace Week: "Trade, Jobs and Peace", 8 November 2019

The Accessions Division, in Chairperson of the Working Party on the partnership with the Accession of Sudan. Other speakers were: (i) Mr. International Labour Tamim M. Baiou, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Organization (ILO) held a panel discussion Mission of Libya to the Office at entitled " Trade, Jobs and Peace" during the Geneva and other International Organizations in Geneva Peace Week on 8 November. The panel ; (ii) Mr. Luigi Narbone, Director of discussed the linkage between trade, jobs and the Middle East Directions Programme at the peace in the context of WTO accessions and Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies; explored potential areas of collaboration (iii) Mrs. Mito Tsukamoto, Head of Investment between the WTO and ILO to support fragile and and Development Branch at the Employment conflict-affected countries to integrate to the Division of the ILO; and (iv) Mr. Abdi Dorre, multilateral trading system. Manager Director of the SCCI – Somali Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wayne McCook, Senior Advisor to the Director-General of the WTO, opened the panel The participants encouraged the WTO and the on behalf of the WTO. The session was ILO to further champion institutional moderated by Mr. Katsuro Nagai, Deputy collaboration for the fragile and conflict-affected Permanent Representative of Japan and countries in the context of the Trade for Peace Mr Wayne McCook (WTO) - 8 November 2019 through WTO Accessions Initiative.

2019 Paris Peace Forum: "Future of Trade Rules", 12 November 2019

Deputy Director-General Alan Wm. Wolff to reach new enforceable trade agreements and attended the Paris Peace Forum. He spoke at repairing the WTO’s dispute settlement system, the session on "Future of Trade Rules", chaired poses “unacceptable risks”. Other speakers of by , President of the Forum and the session included: (i) Mr. Bruno Le Maire, former WTO Director-General. In his speech, Minister of Economy and Finance, France; (ii) Ms DDG Wolff noted that trade is an essential Arancha González, Executive Director, foundation for economic stability which in turn International Trade Center (ITC); (iii) Ms Shuli Hu, makes peace more possible and the expansion founder and publisher of Caixin Media; (iv) Mr. of trade more achievable. He warned that failing Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister, to address the current challenges to the Chairman, Monetary Authority of Singapore Deputy Director-General Alan Wm. Wolff — High- level session « Future of Trade Rules », Paris multilateral trading system, including the need (MAS), Singapore. 12 November 2019 Training Course on Goods Schedules for WTO Accession, 18-22 November 2019

On 18 November, the Secretariat commenced a The main objective of the training course is to 5-day training course on Goods Schedules for enhance understanding of the practical aspects acceding governments, which would last until 22 of bilateral market access negotiations on goods November. 22 participants from 19 acceding as well as the technical aspects of developing governments and 3 Members are attending the schedules of commitments for goods. course organized jointly by the Accessions Participants will be trained on the theoretical Division and the Economic Research and underpinnings of this area of activity and will Statistics Division. The course was opened by take part in practical exercises, including a two- Opening session by DDG Yi Xiaozhun WTO Deputy Director-General Yi Xiaozhun, who day simulation exercise on market access stressed that increasing the membership of the negotiations. WTO has always been a priority as it extends the Training Course on Goods Schedules for WTO Accession—Opening Session, 18 November 2019 coverage of multilateral trade rules and market access.

UPCOMING EVENTS The 3rd Regional Dialogue on WTO

th Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa, The 8 China Round Table, Moscow, 4-5 Addis Ababa, 4 – 7 February 2020 December 2019 The 3rd Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions regional integration for the multilateral trading The 8th China Round Table for the Greater Horn of Africa will take place system; and (iii) sharing of accession-related on WTO Accessions will take in Addis Ababa on 4 – 7 February 2020. The experiences. place in Moscow, Russian event is being co-organized by the WTO in Federation on 4-5 December. The Round Table will be followed by a Special partnership with the International Trade The thematic focus will be Meeting of Acceding Governments, on Centre (ITC), the World Bank, the United "Accessions and WTO 6 December, which will serve as a preparatory Nations Economic Commission for Africa Reform: on the Road to MC12". It will provide an meeting for the first ministerial gathering of (UNECA), the Commission opportunity for dialogue among all acceding acceding governments on the margins of MC12. (AUC) and the Government of Ethiopia. The governments and selected Article XII and original theme "Economic Transformation through Members on topical issues related to WTO Invitations have been sent to all acceding WTO Membership and AfCFTA accessions, such as: (i) contributions of governments and selected Members, including Implementation". All acceding governments accessions to WTO Reform; (ii) implications of Article XII Members from the region. from Africa – , Comoros, Equatorial , Ethiopia, Libya, Sao Tomé and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan – are expected to participate in the Dialogue. 4

N° 96 — October/November 2019

WTO Accession Progress Tracker

Multilateral Process

Memorandum on the Working Party Factual Summary of Draft Working Party Report Foreign Trade Regime Established Points Raised (MFTR) • Algeria • Bahamas • Azerbaijan • Andorra (No documents submitted) • Ethiopia • Belarus • Iran • Sudan • Bhutan • Iraq • Bosnia and • South Sudan Herzegovina • Timor-Leste • Comoros • Equatorial Guinea • Uzbekistan • Lebanese Republic • Libya • Serbia • Sao Tome and Principe • Somalia Bilateral Process • Syrian Arab Republic Initial Goods and Revised goods and Draft Goods and Services Offer services offer (Market Services Schedules Access Negotiations)

• Andorra • Algeria • Ethiopia • Azerbaijan • Uzbekistan • Belarus • Bhutan • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Comoros • Lebanese Republic • Serbia

Informal Group on Accessions Meeting — 28 May 2019

5

N° 96 — October/November 2019

WTO Accessions 2019 — Evolving Work Programme

Accession WP WP Establishment Last WP Meeting State of Play Upcoming Activity 1. Algeria (DZA) 17 June 1987 14WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs 31 March 2014 (replies, LAP, AGSTs, LEG) Chair: H.E. Mr. José Luís CANCELA GÓMEZ (Uruguay) 2. Andorra (AND) 22 October 1997 Inactive 3. Azerbaijan (AZE) 16 July 1997 14WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs 28 July 2017 (replies, LAP, AGSTs, LEG) Chair: H.E. Dr Walter WERNER () 4. The Bahamas (BHS) 18 July 2001 4WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs - 5WPM (TBC) 5 April 2019 (replies, EDWPR) Chair: H.E. Mr. Andrew STAINES (United Kingdom) 5. Belarus (BLR) 27 October 1993 12WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs - Circulation of updated inputs 10 July 2019 (replies, LAP, LEG, AGST) Chair: H.E. Mr. Kemal MADENOĞLU - 13 WPM (Q1 2020) (Turkey) 6. Bhutan* (BTN) 6 October 1999 4WPM, No activity since 2008 30 January 2008 Chair: H.E. Dr. Elisabeth TICHY- FISSLBERGER () 7. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) 15 July 1999 13WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs - Next/final WPM to be held in 7 February 2018 (replies, LAP as well as DWPR) 2019 (TBC) Chair: H.E. Mr. Atanas PAPARIZOV () 8. Comoros* (COM) 9 October 2007 4WPM, - Preparation updated inputs (replies, - Circulation of updated inputs 28 March 2018 LAP as well as DWPR) Chair: H.E. Mr. Luis Enrique CHÁVEZ - 5WPM (Q1 2020) BASAGOITIA (Peru) 9. Equatorial Guinea (GNQ) 5 February 2008 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR - Secretariat's TA mission to to date Malabo (TBC) Chair: Pending 10. Ethiopia* (ETH) 10 February 2003 3WPM, - Preparation of full range of updated - 4WPM, Q1 2020 (TBC) 27 March 2012 inputs (LAP, LEG, AGST, all Chair: questionnaires and checklists, MA H.E. Mr Morten JESPERSEN offers, as well as FS) () 11. Iran (IRN) 26 May 2005 No WPM held to - Preparation of updated inputs (MFTR date and MA offers) Chair: Pending 12. Iraq (IRQ) 13 December 2004 2WPM, - Updated MFTR circulated in Feb. - TA Mission in Baghdad (TBC) 2 April 2008 2018. Chair: H.E. Mr. Omar HILALE (Morocco) - Preparation of full range of updated inputs (replies, LAP, LEG, AGST, checklists and questionnaires, MA offers) 13. Lebanese Republic (LBN) 14 April 1999 7WPM, - Updated inputs (AGST, LAP, LEG, 28 October 2009 checklists and questionnaires, as well Chair: Mr. Jean-Paul THUILLIER as DWPR) circulated to WP in April- (France) June 2017 - Preparation of updated MA offers 14. Libya (LBY) 27 July 2004 No WPM held Inactive to date Chair: Mr. Victor ECHEVARRÍA UGARTE () 15. Sao Tome and Principe* (STP) 26 May 2005 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR to date Chair: Pending 16. Serbia (SRB) 15 February 2005 13WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs (AGST, - 14WPM (TBC) 13 June 2013 LAP, LEG as well as DWPR) Chair: H.E. Mrs Marie-Claire SWÄRD CAPRA () 17. Somalia* (SOM) 7 December 2016 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR - Circulation of MFTR to date Chair: Pending 18. South Sudan* (SSD) 13 December 2017 1WPM, 21 March - Preparation of updated MFTR, as well - TA WTO/ITC mission 2019 as other inputs (replies, checklists, LAP, Chair: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Qurban LEG, initial MA offers) - 2WPM (TBC) HAQJO (Afghanistan) 19. Sudan* (SDN) 25 October 1994 4WPM, - Updated inputs circulated (AGSTs, - 5WPM in 2020 (TBC) 14 July 2017 LAP, LEG, as well as FS) circulated in Chair: Mr. Katsuro NAGAI (Japan) January 2019 20. Syrian Arab Republic (SYR) 4 May 2010 No WPM held Inactive to date Chair: Pending 21. Timor-Leste* (TLS) 7 December 2016 No WPM held - Preparation of replies on MFTR - Secretariat's TA mission to Dili, to date circulated in July 2017, as well as other 2020 (TBC) Chair: H.E. Mr. Rui MACIEIRA inputs (LAP, LEG, initial MA offers) () - 1WPM, 2020 (TBC) 22. Uzbekistan (UZB) 21 December 1994 3WPM, - Preparation of replies on MFTR - 4WPM in Q1 2020 (TBC) 14 October 2005 circulated on 25 July as well as other Chair: H.E. Ms PAIK Ji-ah (Republic inputs (LAP, LEG, AGST, all other of Korea) questionnaires and checklists, MA offers)

Notes: * LDC — AGST (Agricultural Supporting Tables); CVQ (Customs Valuation Questionnaire); DWPR (Draft Working Party Report); FS (Factual Summary of Points Raised); ILQ (Import Licensing Questionnaire); LAP (Legislative Action Plan); LEG (legislation); MA (market access); MFTR (Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime); Q1 (1st quarter); STQ (State Trading Questionnaire); TA (technical assistance); WP (Working Party); WPM (Working Party meeting).

6

N° 96 — October/November 2019

Accessions Anniversary dates — Article XII Members

Article XII Member Membership date NOVEMBER 9 November 2000 13 November 1999 30 November 2000 Kazakhstan 30 November 2015

WTO Building — Centre William Rappard

Accessions Toolbox

➔ Accession Working Parties ➔ Accessions Evolving Work Programme

➔ WTO Director-General's Annual Reports on Accessions ➔ Accession Commitments Database (ACDB)

➔ Handbook on Accessions to the WTO ➔ WTO Accessions Internship - "China Programme"

➔ Accession-Related Technical Assistance Activities ➔ Accession processes of Article XII Members, click here

➔ Accession Intelligence Portal (AIP) on the WTO Website ➔ WTO Accessions Newsletters (En, Fr, Es)

Previous WTO Accessions newsletters:

N° 95 — August/September 2019 N° 94 — June/July 2019 N° 93— April/May 2019

7