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N° 73 - May 2017

Accessions Strategic Objectives

Domestic reform instrument

Systemic update

Market access expansion

International cooperation for trade

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Inside this issue:

ACCESSION OF THE UNION OF THE COMOROS Second meeting of the Working Party

FIFTH INFORMAL GROUP ON ACCESSIONS Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Agenda:

Strategic Focus for 2017: Accession of Sudan Accession of Lebanon

Accession Working Parties State of Play: Belarus and Azerbaijan

Accession Re-engagement: Iraq

Technical Assistance and Outreach: Regional Dialogue on WTO Accession for the Greater Horn of Africa

Accession Anniversaries in June: Georgia and

Yemen

Chaired by the WTO Secretariat (Maika Oshikawa, Officer-in-Charge of the Accessions Division).

Accession of the Union of the Comoros

Comoros: The Working Party on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros held its 2nd meeting on 1 June 2017. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia (Peru). The delegation of Comoros was led by H.E. Mr. Djaffar Ahmed Said Hassani, Vice President and Chief Negotiator for WTO Accession, and comprised sixteen delegates, including representatives of several ministries, government agencies, Parliament, the private sector and civil society. The Working Party meeting was broadcast live to Moroni, which allowed officials who could not travel to Geneva to follow the discussions in real time.

In his opening remarks, the Vice President reaffirmed that WTO accession was a priority for his Government and reiterated that it remained fully committed to the objective of concluding accession negotiations by the WTO Eleventh Ministerial Conference in December 2017. He highlighted that the WTO accession process was not only an integral part of the Comoros' economic growth and poverty reduction strategy, but also a means by which it would modernize its administration as well as its economic and trade-related legislation, thereby creating an enabling environment for business and investment. Several Members pledged to support and work constructively with Comoros towards an early accession.

The Working Party examined Comoros' foreign trade regime on the basis of the Factual Summary of Points Raised and its supporting documents, and reviewed Comoros' legislative developments on the basis of the updated Legislative Action Plan. On the bilateral front, Comoros reported that four Members expressed readiness to sign bilateral market access agreements shortly.

Regarding next steps, Members were invited to submit written questions and comments by 30 June, and Comoros was requested to provide replies to Members' questions as well as additional supporting documents. The Chairperson requested the Secretariat to prepare a draft Report of the Working Party provided that a revised Factual Summary of Points Raised was circulated as soon as possible. He also urged Comoros and Members to conclude the remaining bilateral market access negotiations before the Summer break. The next Working Party meeting is envisaged for September.

On the margins of the Working Party meeting, the delegation of Comoros held several bilateral meetings with interested Members, as well as meetings with the Working Party Chairperson and the Secretariat.

Second meeting of the Working Party

Accession of the Union the Comoros -

2nd Working Party meeting Geneva, 1 June 2017

H.E. Mr. Djaffar Ahmed Said Hassani, Vice President and Chief Negotiator for WTO

Accession

Mr. Said Abdou Salime - Focal Point,

National Committee for Negotiations

2nd Working Party meeting on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros –

Broadcast live with Moroni

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Strategic Focus for 2017

Accession Working Parties State of Play

N° 73 - May 2017

Sudan: In early May, an additional set of documentation was circulated to the Working Party. This included: (i) a revised Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime; (ii) a revised Services Offer; (iii) a questionnaire on Import Licensing; (iv) revised Agriculture Supporting Tables; (v) a revised Legislative Action Plan; and (vi) a Legislation Notice. Additional documents, including Sudan's replies to additional questions and revisions to Sudan's earlier submitted documents, would be circulated by mid-June. In total, 17 documents have been submitted by Sudan to the Working Party since the last Working Party meeting held in January.

At the request of the Working Party, the Secretariat is drafting a Factual Summary of Points Raised, based on the inputs provided by Sudan. The report will serve as the basis for discussion on Sudan's foreign trade regime at the next meeting of the Working Party, which is envisaged for July.

On 17 May, the WTO Deputy Director-General, Mr. David Shark, held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Ghandour, together with the Chairperson of the Working Party, Mr. Ryosuke Kuwana (Japan). Minister Grandour

expressed the determination of the Government of Sudan to advance its accession process towards finalization by the WTO Eleventh Ministerial Conference in December 2017.

Lebanon: On 2 May, the Chairperson of the Working Party, Mr. Jean-Paul Thuillier (France) had a teleconference with H.E. Mr. Raed Khoury, Minister of Economy and Trade of Lebanon and Chief Negotiator for WTO accession to take stock of the latest state of play in the resumption of the accession process. The Minister reiterated Beirut's commitment to WTO accession and its readiness to submit the remaining negotiating inputs to the Working Party.

Since the telephone conference, in addition to the nine documents circulated in April, the following documentation was circulated to the Working Party: (i) an updated Checklist on TBT; (ii) updated Agriculture Supporting Tables; and (iii) a Legislation Notice. A Customs Valuation Questionnaire is expected for circulation to the Working Party shortly. On the market access front, Beirut has reinitiated its bilateral contacts with concerned Members. Following the circulation of the remaining input, the Working Party Chairperson will consult with Members on the date of the Working Party meeting.

Belarus: In preparation for the next cycle of the Working Party meetings, Belarus has begun submitting negotiating inputs, including its replies to Members' questions, a revised Import Licensing questionnaire and a revised TRIPS checklist. Other inputs would become available in the coming weeks.

The Secretariat is preparing a draft Working Party Report, on the basis of the Elements of the draft Working Party Report and Belarus' replies to questions submitted by Members, with a view to circulating it to the Working Party in June.

Following the circulation of all inputs, the Working Party Chairperson, Ambassador Kemal Madenoğlu (Turkey), will consult with Members on the next steps, including the date of the next Working Party meeting.

Azerbaijan: In preparation for the next cycle of the Working Party meetings, an additional three documents were circulated to the Working Party: (i) a revised Legislative Action Plan; (ii) revised Agriculture Supporting Tables; and (iii) Replies to Members' questions on the Agriculture Supporting Tables. In total, seven documents have been circulated to the Working Party since March. In addition, the Secretariat prepared and circulated a revised draft Working Party Report.

The Chairperson of the Working Party, Ambassador Walter Werner (Germany), will consult with Members of the Working Party regarding the date of the next cycle of Working Party meetings. The last meeting of

the Working Party took place in July 2016.

Accession of Sudan — Skype conference with Khartoum Geneva, 24 May 2017

Iraq: On 23 May, the Secretariat held a video conference with the WTO Team in Baghdad led by Ms. Nidhal Sebri Hameed, Director of the WTO Section in the Foreign Economic Relations Department of the Ministry of Trade. The objectives of the videoconference were to: (i) assess the state of play in the accession of Iraq; and (ii) discuss possible next steps that could be taken toward a resumption of the accession process. The Working Party of the Accession of Iraq last met in April 2008.

Iraq is actively preparing the full set of negotiating inputs, including a revised Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime, a Legislative Action Plan, Agriculture Supporting Tables, TBT/SPS Checklists, and initial market access offers on goods and services. Technical assistance support was requested from the Secretariat to finalise this documentation before official submission for circulation to the Working Party. The Secretariat expressed its readiness to work with Iraq's accession team in the coming months.

Accession Re-engagement

Delegation of Sudan — H.E. Minister Ibrahim Ghandour Geneva, 17 May 2017

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N° 73 - May 2017

Technical Assistance and

Outreach Activities

Regional Dialogue on WTO Accession for the Greater Horn of Africa - Nairobi, Kenya – 28-30 August 2017

In partnership with the Government of Kenya and the University of Nairobi, the WTO Secretariat will organise its first Regional Dialogue on WTO Accession for the Greater Horn of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on 28 to 30 August. Four LDC acceding Governments — Comoros, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia — will be invited to the Dialogue, which will offer a platform to: (i) exchange their experiences on on-going accession negotiations; (ii) reflect on how the WTO membership can strengthen regional integration; and (iii) mobilize support for African accessions, including through partnerships and capacity-building.

Back to back with the Regional Dialogue, a first training on WTO accession is scheduled to be held for trade officials from Somalia on 31

August and 1 September.

The Accessions Division wishes a very Happy WTO

Accession Anniversary to:

14

JUNE

26

JUNE

Georgia is the 9th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement and became the 137th Member of the WTO on 14 June 2000.

Yemen is the 32nd economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement and became the 160th Member of the WTO on 26 June 2014.

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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

Date Event

[28-30 August 2017] [Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya]

[September 2017] [Trade Policy Forum on Central Asia and the Multilateral Trading System, Astana, Kazakhstan]

Other Accession Events

DATE WORKING PARTY MEETING STATUS ROOM

Wednesday, 31 May 2017 IGA 5th 2017 Informal Group on Accessions (9:00-10:00)

Convening fax dated

24/05/2017 refers S2

Thursday, 1 June Comoros 2nd Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros

WTO/AIR/ACC/11 dated

17/05/2017 refers D

[Wednesday, 28 June] Azerbaijan Plurilateral meeting on Agriculture (15:00) Convening Notice pending TBC

[Thursday, 29 June] Azerbaijan 14th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Azerbaijan (10:00) Convening Notice pending TBC

[July] Belarus 9th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Belarus Convening Notice pending TBC

[July] Lebanon 8th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of the Lebanese Republic Convening Notice pending TBC

[July] Sudan 4th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Sudan Convening Notice pending TBC

[Wednesday, 26 - Thursday, 27 July] General Council

[TBC] Bosnia and Herzegovina 13th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina Convening Notice pending TBC

[TBC] Timor-Leste 1st Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Timor-Leste Convening Notice pending TBC

[TBC] Ethiopia 4th Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Ethiopia Convening Notice pending TBC

10-13 December 2017 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11), 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 H.E. Dr Steffen Smidt (Denmark)

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° 73 - May 2017