N° 90 — December 2018

Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn Accessions Strategic Objectives of Africa, , 3-6 December 2018  Domestic reform instrument  Systemic update The Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Governments from the region: Comoros,  Market access expansion Accessions for the Greater took , , South Sudan and Sudan. place in Djibouti from 3 to 6 December 2018. Equatorial Guinea also participated on a self-  International cooperation for trade The event was organized by the WTO funded basis. Other participants included Secretariat in partnership with the representatives of recently acceded Members Inside this issue: Government of Djibouti and the International (Afghanistan, Montenegro and ) and Trade Centre (ITC). The thematic focus of this Djibouti, development partners (The • Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for year's Regional Dialogue was "Trade for Peace Intergovernmental Authority on the Greater Horn of Africa — Djibouti, 3-6 through WTO Accessions". More than 80 Development, The Trade Policy Training December 2018 participants attended the Dialogue, including Centre in Africa, The United Nations  LDC Accessions: Comoros, Ethiopia, ministers, senior officials and private sector Economic Commission for Africa and The Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan representatives from the LDC Acceding World Bank) and international experts.  Non-LDC Accessions: Equatorial Guinea • 2018 Strategic Focus: Bosnia and Herzegovina • Accession Working Parties State of Play: - Algeria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus and Uzbekistan • Technical Assistance and Outreach activities:  Accessions Annual Outreach to Regional Groups — November 2018  Upcoming activity: Seminar on WTO Accessions Rules (4-15 February 2019) • 2018 DG Annual Report on WTO Accessions • Update of Accessions Commitments Database (ACDB) • Testimony from a Young Professional: Participants of the Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa Ms Feruza Nabiyeva (Kazakhstan) • WTO Accession Progress Tracker and Evolving The Dialogue was jointly opened by H.E. Mr. from the region (see next section for details Work Programme Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister on these accessions). A Report of the outcome • Accessions Anniversary Dates — Article XII of Djibouti; H.E. Mr. Hassan Houmed Ibrahim, of the Regional Dialogue has been circulated Members — December Minister Delegate for Trade, SMEs, Crafts, to WTO Members and Observers at the Tourism and Formalization of Djibouti; • Accessions Toolbox request of the Government of Djibouti in Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy document with joint symbols: WT/ACC/34; Director-General; and Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, WT/GC/198; WT/COMTD/LDC/27. Stay connected Chief, Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business, ITC. Their remarks acknowledged the timely nature of the Dialogue's 'Trade for Peace' theme at a time when the Greater Horn of Africa is experiencing positive social,

political and economic developments. Participants engaged in a rich, informative and interactive dialogue over several sessions that spanned four days. The sessions discussed various aspects of WTO accession, including, (i) its interface with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); Opening ceremony by H.E. Mr. Abdoulkader Kamil (ii) the emerging best-practices in the Mohamed, Prime Minister of Djibouti and Ambassador preparatory and negotiating phases of the Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Director-General process; (iii) the role of the Accession Chief Negotiator; and, (iii) the inclusiveness of the private sector and other stakeholders in the Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe (Nigeria), Ambassador accession process. The Regional Dialogue also Mohammad Hagjo (Afghanistan), Ms Emilia served as a platform to share recent progress Malavoloneque (Grupo Neosol), Ms Mariam Soumaré and challenges in the five on-going accessions (WTO) and Mr Michael Ferrantino (World Bank)

Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan, Permanent Representative of Djibouti in Geneva 1

N° 90 — December 2018

Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa, Djibouti, 3-6 December 2018 (cont’d)

The participants in the Regional Dialogue attended the opening ceremony of Djibouti's Second International Trade Fair and visited the , the Doraleh Multipurpose Port and the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ). On the margins of the Dialogue, Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Director- Lecture at the University of Djibouti by Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff General, held bilateral meetings with several representatives of the Government of Djibouti, including H.E. Mr. Ismaïl Omar For more information on the Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti. Regional Dialogue, please visit At these meetings, the Djibouti authorities the dedicated website at: reaffirmed their commitment to the https://www.wto.org/english/ Multilateral Trading System and the work of Visit of Djibouti port and the International Free thewto_e/acc_e/ Trade Zone (DIFTZ) the WTO, and highlighted the importance of prog2ndreginaldialogu18_e.htm trade facilitation and e-commerce for the economy of Djibouti.

LDCs Accessions

Comoros: Ambassador Assoumani Youssouf on trade licensing, intellectual property rights, Sudan: H.E. Mr. Musa Mohamed Karama, Mondoha, Permanent Representative of the investment and government procurement. Minister of Industry and Trade, stressed that Union of the Comoros to the , The importance of technical assistance for trade played a key role in fostering peace and reported that two customs-related, WTO building capacity was stressed. stability, and in particular, the accession to the compliant, reform measures had been rule-based multilateral trading system was successfully adopted. The next step in the considered as a catalyst for Government's accession process is the submission by efforts to undertake necessary economic Comoros of replies to questions, which will be reforms to promote the rule of law and good the basis for the Secretariat to update the governance. draft Report for the next meeting of the Working Party. Ethiopia: Mr. Geremew Ayalew Haile, Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the WTO, reported that Prime Bilateral Meeting with Delegation of Somalia — Minister Abiy Mohamed had appointed Mr. Djibouti, -3 6 December 2018 Mamo Mihretu as Chief Trade Negotiator Meeting with Minister Karama — Khartoum, Sudan, 9 December 2018 responsible for WTO accession, and that the South Sudan: H.E. Mr. Agak Achuil Lual objective of the Government was to resume Manok, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Following the Regional Dialogue, the the accession process with a view to its early Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, stated that Secretariat undertook a technical mission to conclusion, so as to support the Government's South Sudan's aspiration for joining the WTO Khartoum on 8-13 December 2018. The reform agenda. was part of its broad commitment to promote objective of the mission was to collect an open free market economy. South Sudan information to update the Factual Summary of At the invitation of the Government, the was developing its MFTR, and it planned to Points Raised so as to reflect the trade policy Secretariat will undertake a technical mission establish an Inter-Ministerial Steering developments of 2018. During the mission, to Addis Ababa, from 14 to 18 of January Committee and to appoint a Chief Negotiator the Secretariat met with Minister Karama and 2019. The objective of the mission is to shortly. the Technical Committee, which included update the full set of the accession representatives of the line-ministries involved documentation, including the Factual Prior to the Regional Dialogue, the WTO in the accession process. The agreed next Summary of Points Raised, required for the Secretariat undertook a mission to Juba, on steps at the end of the mission included, inter resumption of the Working Party in the spring 28-30 November 2018. The mission's main alia, the circulation of the updated Factual of 2019. objective was to review the work undertaken Summary and other negotiating inputs in on the draft MFTR, which will be finalised for January 2019. On 12 December, Ambassador Morten circulation to WTO members before the end Jespersen () was appointed by the of December. General Council as Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Ethiopia. Somalia: H.E. Mr. Dahir Adan Abdullah, State Minister for Commerce and Industry, noted that his Government was currently finalizing the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Technical Assistance mission to Khartoum— Regime (MFTR). Moreover, Somalia had been 8-13 December 2018 undertaking reforms, such as, enacting laws Bilateral Meeting with Delegation of South Sudan — On 12 December, Mr. Katsuro Nagai (Japan) Djibouti, -3 6 December 2018 was appointed by the General Council as Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Sudan. 2

N° 90 — December 2018

Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa, Djibouti, 3-6 December 2018 (cont’d)

Non-LDCs Accessions

Equatorial Guinea: A 3-person delegation, led by Mr. Expedito Genaro Osâ Nsomboro Okomo, Focal Point of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, participated in the Second Regional Dialogue on a self-funded basis. Equatorial Guinea, whose Working Party was established in 2008, is currently preparing the MFTR. At the request of the Government, the Secretariat plans to undertake a technical mission to Malabo, in the first quarter of 2019, to assist the technical team in finalizing the draft MFTR for Delegation of Equatorial Guinea — submission to the Working Party. Djibouti, -3 6 December 2018 Working Parties – 2018 Strategic Focus

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo submitted awaiting conclusion. As for rules, there are a its schedule for the Information Technology limited number of issues under consultation Agreement (ITA) to the Secretariat for with specific Members. It is the hope of Bosnia technical verification and will soon be and Herzegovina to have the final meeting of submitted to the ITA Committee for approval. the Working Party during the first quarter of Regarding bilateral market access negotiations, 2019, so that it could become the 165th there is only one outstanding negotiation Member of the WTO as early as possible.

10th Informal Group on Accessions Meeting — 13 December 2018 Working Parties — State of Play

Algeria: At the invitation of the Government The Bahamas: In preparation for the 4th of Algeria, Ambassador José Luis Cancela Working Party meeting, a set of updated (Uruguay), Chairperson of the Working Party, accession documents, including the Factual visited Algiers at the end of November. During Summary of Points Raised, was circulated on his 3-day visit, he met with the Minister of 13 December 2018. The Bahamas is currently Commerce, the National Committee on WTO in the process of preparing revised market Accession, the Chamber of Commerce, the access offers. Ambassador Andrew Staines Intellectual Property Office and a think tank. (United Kingdom), Chairperson of the Working Signing bilateral agreement between Belarus and Party, will soon begin consultations for the Azerbaijan: A delegation from Baku, led by (© http://geneva.mfa.gov.by/en/ date of the next meeting of the Working embassy/news/c317fdeebe5ff433.html) H.E. Mr. Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev, Deputy Party, envisaged for February. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Uzbekistan: On 17 December, Mr. Badriddin Negotiator for WTO accession, was in Geneva Belarus: In preparation for the 11th Working Abidov was appointed as Deputy Minister of from 17 to 20 December. The main objective Party meeting, the Secretariat has updated Foreign Trade and Chief Negotiator for of the visit was to advance Azerbaijan's the Draft Report of the Working Party to Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO. bilateral market access negotiations. On the reflect Belarus' latest replies to questions Earlier this month, Mr. Abidov visited Geneva margins of the bilateral meetings, the raised by Members. The revised Draft Report and met with Ambassador PAIK Ji-ah (Korea), delegation met with Ambassador Walter was circulated on 20 December, together with Chairperson of the Working Party; Werner (), Chairperson of the other negotiating inputs. Ambassador Kemal Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Working Party, and the Accessions Division to Madenoğlu (), Chairperson of the Director-General; the Accessions Division; and exchange views on the state of play in the Working Party, will begin consultations on the several Members. The Secretariat discussed accession process and possible next steps. date of the next meeting of the Working with Mr. Abidov the next steps for the Party. reactivation of Uzbekistan's accession process, As for bilateral market access negotiations, including the submission of the MFTR and Belarus signed the bilateral market access other accession documentations, and the agreement with Switzerland on 14 December. Chairperson's visit. Belarus has also submitted its ITA schedule for technical verification by the Secretariat. It is expected that the schedule be soon submitted to the ITA Committee. Meeting with Delegation of Azerbaijan — Geneva, 17 December 2018

Mr Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Minister Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan (© https://mft.uz/en/news/191218) 3

N° 90 — December 2018

Technical Assistance and Outreach activities

Annual Outreach to Regional Groups Upcoming Activity: Seminar on WTO 2018 DG Annual Report Accessions Rules (4-15 February 2019) As part of its annual outreach to different The 2018 DG annual Report on Accessions was regional groups in the WTO, the Secretariat The Secretariat is organizing a Seminar on circulated on 11 December (WT/ACC/33; provided briefings on the state of play on WTO Accession Rules from 4 to 15 February WT/GC/196). This year's thematic section is: WTO accessions to the ASEAN Group on 2019. "Report on Recent Developments in the 27 November, the GRULAC on 28 November Management of Accession Negotiations". The and to the Informal Group of Acceding The main objectives of the activity are to: (i) section offers a historical record of how recent Governments (IGAG) on 30 November. review accession acquis; (ii) provide in-depth accessions have been handled. Its main explanations of the WTO legal disciplines at purpose is to enhance transparency and assist A further meeting with the African Group is issue in each Working Party Report; (iii) expected to be held in January 2019. delegations in participating more effectively in familiarize participants with the various accessions work. accession specific documents; and (iv) enhance knowledge of accession commitment paragraphs. Update of ACDB

The Accession Commitments Database (ACDB) provides access to all accession-specific commitments and related information. It previously contained only Accession Working Party Reports of 36 Article XII Members. In 2018, the Database was updated to include Accession Protocols of all Article XII Members and commitments reflected therein.

Changes have also been made to improve user -friendly features of the Database to facilitate the search through accession commitments of Recently Acceded Members. The ACDB is available in the three official languages of the Briefing on accessions with the ASEAN Group — Annual Outreach with the Informal Group of Acceding 27 November 2018 Governments — 30 November 2018 WTO at: http://acdb.wto.org/.

TESTIMONY FROM A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL: MS. FERUZA NABIYEVA (KAZAKHSTAN)

My dear Accessions Division, If asked to describe my experience in the Accessions Division as a young professional, I would use the word "transformative". First of all, it showed me the true importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which I used to observe only from my own country's (Kazakhstan) perspective. While assisting the countries aspiring to join the WTO, I got to actually see these Acceding Governments – through learning the peculiarities of their economies, the state of their social and political situation and, most importantly, the development objectives they associated with WTO Membership. For many of them, it is not only about levelling the field for trade and dialogue, but also about far- reaching implications for transparency and the rule of law, which sometimes can be as critical as lifting millions of people out of poverty or peace building. Each dossier, therefore, is unique and treated very personally by the Division. It was astonishing to realize that to some extent the process of WTO accession is the writing of history for these Acceding Governments. This is what made and makes the work of the Division so meaningful for me. On the other hand, this was a transformative experience at the personal level. Being exposed to and, in fact, being a part of the internal processes of the Organization was an amazing experience on its own. Working with highly qualified WTO experts has irreversibly raised the bar on my own performance and I cannot be grateful enough for the Young Professional Programme and the amazing people behind it. But on top of that, throughout the year in the Division, I felt like I was accepted in a family, who supported, guided and believed in me in at every step I took. This feeling of trust pushed me forward to discover my own potential and, interestingly, helped me leave my comfort zone in the most comfortable way. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each of you for the opportunities you gave me to learn and grow, for your wisdom, professional life-hacks, and friendship It was a great privilege to be a part of your team for a whole year, although I am positive that our friendship will last for many years to come (Anna, you are the best supervisor and friend I could ever dream of!). At the end of the day, any adventure is always about people and the relationships we are able to build. Thank you and happy holidays!

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N° 90 — December 2018

WTO Accession Progress Tracker

WTO Accessions 2018 — Evolving Work Programme

Accession WP WP Last WP State of Play Upcoming Activity Establishment Meeting 1. Algeria (DZA) 17 June 1987 14WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs Circulation of updated Chair: H.E. Mr. José Luís 31 March 2014 (replies, LAP, AGSTs, LEG) inputs (TBC) CANCELA GÓMEZ (Uruguay) 2. Andorra (AND) 22 October 1997 Inactive 3. Azerbaijan (AZE) 16 July 1997 14WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs - 15WPM (TBC) Chair: H.E. Dr Walter 28 July 2017 (replies, LAP, AGSTs, LEG) - Bilateral meetings with WERNER (Germany) Members Week of 17 December 2018 4. The Bahamas (BHS) 18 July 2001 3WPM, - Updated inputs (replies, LAP, LEG, - 4WPM February 2019 Chair: H.E. Mr. Andrew 21 September DSN, as well as FS) circulated to (TBC) STAINES (United Kingdom) 2018 WP on 13 December 2018 5. Belarus (BLR) 27 October 1993 10WPM, - Circulation of updated inputs - Workshop on Services Chair: H.E. Mr. Kemal 15 May 2018 December 2018 1st Quarter 2019 MADENOĞLU (Turkey) - 11WPM February 2019 (TBC) 6. Bhutan* (BTN) 6 October 1999 4WPM, No activity since 2008 Chair: H.E. Dr. Elisabeth TICHY- 30 January 2008 FISSLBERGER (Austria) 7. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) 15 July 1999 13WPM, - Preparation of replies and a - Next/final WPM to be Chair: H.E. Mr. Atanas 7 February 2018 revised DWPR held in Q1 2019 (TBC) PAPARIZOV (Bulgaria) 8. Comoros* (COM) 9 October 2007 4WPM, - Preparation of replies and other - Circulation of updated Chair: H.E. Mr. Luis Enrique 28 March 2018 updated inputs inputs, Q1 2019 CHÁVEZ BASAGOITIA (Peru) - 5WPM (TBC) 9. Equatorial Guinea (GNQ) 5 February 2008 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR - Secretariat's TA Chair: Pending to date mission to Malabo Q1 2019 (TBC) 10. Ethiopia* (ETH) 10 February 2003 3WPM, - Preparation of full range of - Secretariat's TA Chair: 27 March 2012 updated inputs (LAP, LEG, AGST, all mission to Addis Ababa: H.E. Mr Morten JESPERSEN questionnaires and checklists, MA Week of 14 January (Denmark) offers, as well as FS) 2019 - 4WPM, Q2 2019 (TBC)

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).

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N° 90 — December 2018

WTO Accessions 2018—Evolving Work Programme (Cont’d)

Accession WP WP Last WP State of Play Upcoming Activity Establishment Meeting 11. Iran (IRN) 26 May 2005 No WPM held to - Preparation of updated inputs Chair: Pending date (MFTR and MA offers) 12. Iraq (IRQ) 13 December 2004 2WPM, - Updated MFTR circulated in Feb. - 3WPM (TBC) Chair: H.E. Mr. Omar HILALE 2 April 2008 2018. (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, - 8WPM (TBC) Chair: Mr. Jean-Paul THUILLIER 28 October 2009 checklists and questionnaires, as () well as DWPR) circulated to WP in April-June 2017 - Preparation of updated MA offers 14. Libya (LBY) 27 July 2004 No WPM held Inactive Chair: Mr. Victor to date ECHEVARRÍA UGARTE () 15. Sao Tome and Principe* (STP) 26 May 2005 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR Chair: Pending to date 16. Serbia (SRB) 15 February 2005 13WPM, - Preparation of updated inputs - Circulation of updated Chair: H.E. Mrs Marie-Claire 13 June 2013 (AGST, LAP, LEG as well as DWPR) inputs in Q1 2019 (TBC) SWÄRD CAPRA () - 14WPM, Q1 2019 (TBC) 17. Somalia* (SOM) 7 December 2016 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR Chair: Pending to date 18. South Sudan* (SSD) 13 December 2017 No WPM held - Preparation of MFTR - Circulation of MFTR Q4 Chair: Pending to date 2018 - 1WPM Q1 2019 (TBC) 19. Sudan* (SDN) 25 October 1994 4WPM, - Preparation of updated - 5WPM in Q1 2019 Chair: Mr. Katsuro NAGAI 14 July 2017 documentation (FS and other (TBC) (Japan) inputs) - Secretariat's TA mission to Khartoum, 8-13 December 2018 20. Syrian Arab Republic (SYR) 4 May 2010 No WPM held Inactive Chair: Pending to date 21. Timor-Leste* (TLS) 7 December 2016 No WPM held - Preparation of replies on MFTR - Secretariat's TA Chair: H.E. Mr. Pedro Nuno to date circulated in July 2017, as well as mission to Dili, Q1 2019 BÁRTOLO () other inputs (LAP, LEG, initial (TBC) MA offers) - 1WPM, 2019 (TBC) 22. Uzbekistan (UZB) 21 December 1994 3WPM, - Preparation of complete set of - Circulation of updated Chair: H.E. Ms PAIK Ji-ah 14 October 2005 updated inputs (MFTR, LAP, LEG, inputs, Q1 2019 (TBC) (Republic of Korea) AGST, all other questionnaires and - Chair’s visit Q1 2019 checklists, MA offers) (TBC) - 4WPM in Q2 2019 (TBC)

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 onthe Foreign Trade Regime); Q1 (1st quarter); STQ (State Trading Questionnaire); TA (technical assistance); WP (Working Party); WPM (Working Party meeting).

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N° 90 — December 2018

Accessions Anniversary dates — Article XII Members

Article XII Member Membership date DECEMBER Bulgaria 1 December 1996 11 December 2001 , Kingdom of 11 December 2005 Kyrgyz Republic 20 December 1998

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:

November 2018 September/October 2018 August 2018—Summer

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