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N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017

Accessions Strategic Objectives

Domestic reform instrument

Systemic update

Market access expansion

International cooperation for trade

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Inside this issue:

REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON WTO ACCESSIONS FOR THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA

28-30 August 2017, Nairobi, Kenya

ACCESSION STATE-OF-PLAY

Comoros

Ethiopia

Somalia

Sudan

South Sudan

LATEST STATE-OF-PLAY SUMMARY

EXPERIENCE SHARING

KEY OUTCOMES

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

Nairobi Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa, 28-30 August

A Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa was organized by the WTO Secretariat, in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the University of Nairobi. This Dialogue, for the first time, brought together Acceding Governments in the Greater Horn of Africa, i.e. Comoros, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. The Dialogue was also joined by South Sudan, a non-WTO observer. These five countries – all represented at the levels of Minister/

Deputy Minister and/or Chief Negotiator — were joined by former accession negotiators from China, Liberia, Oman, Seychelles and Yemen, as well as development partners, to review the state-of-play of their respective accessions and engage in experience sharing on the accession process. Over 80 participants attended the three-day event.

The Dialogue was opened by H.E. Ambassador (Dr.) Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Professor Peter Mbithi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, and Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Officer-in-Charge of the Accessions Division.

Ambassador (Dr.) Amina Mohamed

Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs ,

Republic of Kenya

Professor Peter Mbithi, Vice Chancellor

University of Nairobi

Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Officer in Charge,

Accessions Division

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Accession State-of-play

Ethiopia: H.E. Dr. Bekele Bulado Bukana, Minister of Trade stated that WTO accession was a priority of the Government of Ethiopia and currently, efforts were underway to reactivate the accession process, with the preparation of updated documentation for the eventual Fourth Working Party meeting. Such reactivation efforts also included restructuring the WTO accession

negotiation structure which had been approved by the Council of Ministers. Moreover, the Government had been undertaking necessary reforms to make Ethiopia's trade regime WTO-compliant and to reduce trade barriers through, inter alia, an Ease-of-Doing Business Initiative and improving customs procedures.

N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017

Somalia: H.E. Ms. Khadra Ahmed Dualeh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, stated that the political landscape had improved considerably in February 2017 with the election of new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo), who has pledged his full support for WTO accession. Accession-related domestic reforms are seen as essential means to rebuild the economy which has suffered from the effects of extended periods of conflict. The Minister and the WTO accession team were ready to work closely with all key domestic stakeholders and

international partners to pro-actively pursue the accession process. As a first step in starting the substantive discussion at the Working Party, the technical team was currently preparing a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR), which was expected to be finalized by MC11.

Sudan: H.E. Mr. Elsadig Mohamed Ali, State Minister of Trade, and Dr. Hassan Ahmed Taha, National Chief Negotiator, stated that since 2016, the Government of Sudan, with a renewed political commitment, had made serious efforts towards reactivating the accession process. Intensive technical work had been built around two Working Party meetings held in January and July 2017, and progress had been made on several

bilateral market-access negotiations in July. Sudan remained fully committed to engage with Members to advance its work, with the objective to conclude its accession process in 2018.

H.E. Ms. Khadra Ahmed Dualeh, Minister of

Commerce and Industry

H.E. Mr. Elsadig Mohamed Ali, State Minister of Trade

Comoros: Mr. Abdou Nassur Madi, Director-General of Economy and Foreign Trade, stated that the Government of the Union of Comoros attached great importance to the WTO and its accession process, which was spearhead by Vice President Djaffar Ahmed Said Hassani as Chief Negotiator. Two Working Party meetings, held in December 2016 and June 2017, combined with a visit by the Working Party Chairperson, Ambassador Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia (Peru), to Moroni in March 2017, have generated

the momentum to advance the technical work. An important milestone was crossed in July, when all but one bilateral market access negotiations were concluded. The goal would be to become the 165th Member of the WTO by the 11th Ministerial Conference and the negotiating team was fully committed to engaging with WTO Members to close outstanding issues in the coming weeks. Mr. Abdou Nassur Madi, Director-General of Economy

and Foreign Trade

H.E. Dr. Bekele Bulado Bukana, Minister of Trade

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Latest State-of-play — Summary

N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017

WP established WP Meetings WP Chairperson Multilateral Bilateral

Membership in regional arrange-

ments

Comoros Oct-07 2 (12/2016, 06/2017) Amb. Luis Enrique Chá-vez Basagoitia (Peru)

Elements of a DWPR circulat-ed in 09/2017

Signed with 2 members

COMESA

Ethiopia Feb-03 3 (05/2008, 06/2011, 03/2012)

Appointment pending FSPR circulated in 03/2012

On-going COMESA, IGAD

Somalia Dec-16 To be scheduled Appointment pending MFTR to be submitted in 2017

To be start-ed

Applied for COMESA, EAC, IGAD

Sudan Oct-94 4 (07/2003, 03/2004, 01/2017 07/2017)

Mr. Ryosuke Kuwana (Japan)

FSPR circulated in 06/2017

Signed with 2 Members

COMESA, IGAD

South Sudan Application for WTO accession to be submitted shortly

N/A N/A N/A N/A EAC, IGAD

COMESA—Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

EAC—East African Community

IGAD—Intergovernmental Authority on Development

South Sudan: H.E. Mr. Moses Hassan Ayet Tiel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, stated that the integration into the global economy was a priority for the Government of South Sudan, as the youngest country in the international community. For this reason, South Sudan would shortly submit an application for WTO accession as it was ready to undertake the required reforms to promote economic development and

re-brand its country. South Sudan's membership in the East African Community (EAC) since 2016 had already helped familiarize South Sudan with some of the requirements of WTO membership.

H.E. Mr. Moses Hassan Ayet Tiel, Minister of

Trade, Industry and Investment

Accession State-of-play (cont’d)

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Experience Sharing Former accession negotiators from China, Liberia, Seychelles and Yemen shared their individual experiences and offered insights and advice on the accession process (see box). They included: H.E. Mr. Axel Addy, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia; Ambassador Zhang Xiangchen, Permanent Representative of China to the WTO; Ms. Cillia Mangroo, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning, Seychelles and Mr. Nagib Hamim, Economic Attaché from the Permanent Mission of Yemen to the WTO and the Focal Point on WTO Accessions in the LDC Group. Perspectives on the accession process were also provided from a Working Party Chairperson - by Ms. Hilda Al Hinai (Oman) on the accession of the Seychelles – and an original WTO member - by Ambassador Nelson Ndirangu of Kenya.

Representative of development partners and international organizations also shared their perspectives on fostering synergies and coherence between structural reforms, the WTO, and regional integration in Africa. In addition, they shared their menu of technical assistance and capacity building available for acceding governments. These partners and organizations included: African Development Bank; Enhanced Integrated Framework; Intergovernmental Authority on Development; Islamic Development Bank; UK Department for International Development; United Nations Conference for Trade and Development; and World Bank.

Some Useful Tips and Advice for the Accession Negotiation Process

Building a network a network of "friends of accession" of WTO Members;

Building support from the African Group; the LDC Group; partners in regional integration arrangements; the WTO Secretariat; and bilateral, regional, and multilateral development partners;

The need to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with negotiating partners ("3Cs");

Compiling and monitoring accession-specific questions;

Conducting high-level missions for bilateral consultations in Members’ capital;

Conducting informal negotiations before formal negotiations; and

Keeping record of all meetings, including informal and bilateral meetings.

Ms. Cillia Mangroo, Principal Secretary,

Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning,

Seychelles

H.E. Mr. Axel Addy, Minister of Commerce and

Industry of Liberia

Ambassador Zhang Xiangchen, Permanent Representative

of China to the WTO

Mr. Nagib Hamim, Economic Attaché Permanent

Mission of Yemen to the WTO

Ms. Hilda Al Hinai , Deputy Permanent

Representative of Oman to the WTO

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Key Outcomes

N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017

Participants of the Regional Dialogue:

Appreciated experience sharing as one of the most effective ways to build accession knowledge and negotiating capacity. In this regard, they welcomed the upcoming Sixth China Round Table, to be held on the margins of MC11, which would focus on the development of a network of accession negotiators to support the on-going accessions.

Welcomed the recent progress registered in the accessions of Comoros, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan, and urged WTO Members to work constructively with acceding governments to advance their accession negotiations. In particular, they pledged their full support for conclusion of the accession of Comoros by MC11 and they urged WTO Members to accelerate and facilitate the finalization of the negotiations in the coming weeks.

Urged Sudan to accelerate its accession towards early conclusion in 2018 and encouraged Ethiopia for reactivation of its accession process as early as possible. Somalia was encouraged to submit its MFTR before MC11 so that its accession process could advance in early 2018.

Called on WTO Members to consider South Sudan's upcoming application for WTO accession positively, as encouragement to promote peace and stability in the region, when it would be submitted for consideration by the General Council at its meeting in October 2017.

Welcomed the offer from the Government of Kenya to hold a WTO Trade Policy Course in partnership with the University of Nairobi. In addition, the University of Nairobi was encouraged to develop partnerships with universities in

the region to help them build trade expertise through academic collaboration and cooperation.

Appealed to development partners present (AfDB, DFID, EIF, IDB, IGAD, UNCTAD, WBG and the WTO Secretariat) to step up support for the accession process and subsequent implementation.

Expressed their appreciation to the Government of Kenya for hosting the Regional Dialogue, in partnership with the University of Nairobi, and warm hospitality provided to the participants. They also expressed their appreciation to the WTO Secretariat for the excellent arrangements.

Reiterated strong appreciation to Kenya for its support to the accession efforts of its neighbouring countries, and requested Kenya to hold the Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of African on an annual basis, until the completion of the remaining accessions in the region.

Ambassador Nelson Ndirangu, Director of Economic Affairs and Commercial Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Republic of Kenya

Ambassador Dr. Stephen Ndung’u Karau, Permanent

Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the WTO Professor Tabitha Kiriti Nganga, Professor of Economics and Co-chair of the WTO Chairs

Programme (WCP)

The document “Nairobi Outcome: Fostering Synergies and Coherence between Regional Integration and the Multilateral Trading

System through WTO

Accessions” was circulated as WT/ACC/30, on 6 September 2017.

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N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017

Specialized Training on WTO Accessions, 31 August—1 September 2017

The Regional Dialogue was followed by a two-day training on WTO Accessions for government officials from Somalia and South Sudan. The training provided an overview of the WTO, including its historical background, mandates, core principles, and functions of the organization. It also provided an overview of the WTO accession process and the substance of accession negotiations.

The 10-person Somali delegation led by Ms. Maryan Hassan, Chief Negotiator for WTO Accession, made presentations on its foreign trade regime, which would serve as the basis for its MFTR. The 4-person delegation of South Sudan, led by Minister Tiel, provided an overview of its trade policy regime, including

on South Sudan’s EAC membership.

Participants also had discussion on the EAC which South Sudan had joined in 2016 and Somalia was planning to join in a near future, based on an informative presentation by Professor Tabitha Kiriti Nganga of the University of Nairobi. The training also reflected on next-steps, including on an indicative roadmap for

Ms. Maryan Hassan Chief Negotiator for the WTO Accession

Participants of the Specialized Training

Participants of the Specialized Training

Mr. Biel Jock Thich, Undersecretary,

Ministry of Trade

The Accessions Division wishes a very Happy WTO Accession Anniversary to:

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AUGUST

24

AUGUST

Russian Federation is the 28th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the

Marrakesh Agreement and became the 156th Member of the WTO on 22 August 2012.

Vanuatu is the 29th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh

Agreement and became the 157th Member of the WTO on 24 August 2012.

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SEPTEMBER

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SEPTEMBER

Panama is the 4th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh

Agreement and became the 132nd Member of the WTO on 6 September 1997.

Albania is the 10th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh

Agreement and became the 138th Member of the WTO on 8 September 2000.

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Evolving Calendar of Accessions Meetings (ECAM)

Accession Working Parties Evolving Calendar of Accession Meetings (ECAM)

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 Portal on the WTO Website (En, Fr, Es) WTO Accessions Newsletters

Accessions Toolbox

Other Accession Events

DATE WORKING PARTY MEETING STATUS ROOM

12 September 2017 Belarus Plurilateral meetings on Agriculture (PM) Convening Notice

pending D

13 September 2017 Belarus 9th Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of Belarus Convening Notice

pending CR

[29 September 2017] Comoros 3rd Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of the Union of the Comoros Convening Notice

pending TBC

[Thursday, 26 - Friday, 27 October] General Council

[TBC] Bosnia and Herzegovina 13th Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina Convening Notice

pending TBC

[TBC] Sudan 5th Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of Sudan Convening Notice

pending TBC

10-13 December 2017 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11), Buenos Aires, Argentina

2018

[TBC] Timor-Leste 1st Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of Timor-Leste Convening Notice

pending TBC

[TBC] Lebanon 8th Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of the Lebanese Republic Convening Notice

pending TBC

[TBC] Ethiopia 4th Meeting of the Working Party on the

Accession of Ethiopia Convening Notice

pending TBC

Date Event

27 September 2017 Public Forum 2017: Accessions Behind the Headlines: Integration of Arab Countries into the Global Economy

9 December 2017 6th China Round Table on WTO Accessions, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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List of WTO Accessions Working Party Chairpersons

Government Date Working Party established Working Party Chairperson

1. Algeria 17 June 1987 H.E. Mr Gustavo Miguel Vanerio Balbela (Uruguay)

2. Andorra 22 October 1997 Pending

3. Azerbaijan 16 July 1997 H.E. Dr. Walter Werner (Germany)

4. The Bahamas 18 July 2001 H.E. Mr Wayne McCook (Jamaica)

5. Belarus 27 October 1993 H.E. Mr Kemal Madenoğlu (Turkey)

6. Bhutan* 6 October 1999 H.E. Mr Thomas Hajnoczi (Austria)

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina 15 July 1999 H.E. Dr Rajmund Kiss (Hungary)

8. Comoros, Union of the* 9 October 2007 H.E. Mr Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia (Peru)

9. Equatorial Guinea* 5 February 2008 Pending

10. Ethiopia* 10 February 2003 Pending

11. Iran 26 May 2005 Pending

12. Iraq 13 December 2004 H.E. Mr Omar Hilale (Morocco)

13. Lebanese Republic 14 April 1999 Mr Jean-Paul Thuillier (France)

14. Libya 27 July 2004 Mr Victor Echevarría Ugarte (Spain)

15. Sao Tomé and Principe* 26 May 2005 Pending

16. Serbia 15 February 2005 H.E. Mrs Marie-Claire Swärd Capra (Sweden)

17. Somalia* 7 December 2016 Pending

18. Sudan* 25 October 1994 Mr Ryosuke Kuwana (Japan)

19. Syrian Arab Republic 4 May 2010 Pending

20. Timor-Leste* 7 December 2016 Pending

21. Uzbekistan 21 December 1994 H.E. Mr Seokyoung Choi (Korea)

* Least-Developed Country (LDC)

N° 76 - Summer Special Edition 2017