WT/ACC/21  
WT/GC/155  
WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
1 November 2013  
(13-6012)  Page: 1/36  
    
  
 
  
 
 
 
WTO ACCESSIONS 
 
2013 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL* 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
                                               
* This Annual Report takes account of confir med accession-related de velopments up until 
1 November 2013. This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own 
responsibility and without prejudice to the positions of Members and to 
their rights and obligations under the WTO. WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
I.  INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ............................................................................. 3  
II.  2013 DEVELOPMENTS .............................................................................................. 4  
(A) ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES:  AN OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES ............................ 4  
(B) WORKING PARTY CH AIRPERSONS .......................................................................... 5  
(C) TRANSPARENCY IN THE ACCESSION PROCESS ........................................................ 6  
(D) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  AND OUTREACH ............................................................... 7  
(E) ACCESSIONS TOOL BOX (ATB) ................................................................................. 9  
III.  STATE-OF-PLAY IN ACCESSI ON WORKING PARTIES ............................................. 10  
IV. LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTR IES' ACCE SSIONS ...................................................... 14  
V.  WTO ACCESSIONS - TRANSPARENCY COMMITMENTS AND COMPLIANCE 
WITH  NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION S BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS .......................... 15  
1   INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 15  
2   WTO PUBLICATION AND NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS ................................... 16  
2.1   WTO legal basis, rules and pr ocedures ................................................................ 16 
2.2   Monitoring and Surveillance ............................................................................... 17 
3   ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS AND WTO NOTIFICATION AND 
PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 18  
3.1   Specific commitments undertaken in  Article XII accessi on negotiations .................... 18 
3.2   Article XII accession process as preparatory for WTO Membership ........................... 20 
4   ARTICLE XII MEMBERS' COMP LIANCE WITH WTO NOTIFICATION 
OBLIGATI ONS ....................................................................................................... 21  
5   CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 23  
VI.  TRADE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANC E OF ARTICLE XII MEMBERS ....................... 23  
VII. CONCLUSIONS - OU TLOOK 20 14 ........................................................................... 24  
ANNEX 1 - ACCESSION S DIVISION WORK INDICATO RS ................................................ 27  
ANNEX 2 - ACCESSIONS NE GOTIATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XII ................................ 28  
ANNEX 3 - WTO ACCESSIONS WORKIN G PARTY (WP) CH AIRPERSONS.......................... 29  
ANNEX 4 - SECTION V-DATA  ON TRANSPARENCY .......................................................... 30  
ANNEX 5 - SECTION VI-DATA ON ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ......................................... 34  
ANNEX 6 - ACCESSION S MANAGEME NT .......................................................................... 35  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  I.  INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW  
1. This is the Fifth Annual Report on WTO Acce ssions and my first as Director-General.  
Although the Organization has not moved as fast as planned, progress this year was steady and 
largely technical, setting the stage to further advance in 2014.  This year, the accession of Yemen was concluded.  Technical work on several was ad vanced to their final stages.  Transparency and 
outreach were enhanced.  The Informal Group on A ccessions improved its play as a "facilitator" in 
the systemic coordination of work on accession s.  Work on the "Accessions Toolbox" (ATB) was 
refined, upgraded and advanced.   
2. As I stated at the opening of the Global Seminar on WTO Accessions on 23 September, 
"WTO Accession is a strategic priority for the Organization".  This is why I have given support to the long overdue process of stock-taking of the considerable acquis  t h a t  h a v e  r e s u l t e d  f r o m  
31 completed accessions.  As an Organization, we need to ascertain the best practices and lessons 
from completed accessions.  Accessions results ha ve contributed to the rules, improved market 
access, provided an instrument to assist domestic reforms and fostered broader international 
cooperation.  Improved understanding of these effects should provide useful perspectives to 
questions regarding the WTO and its future.  In a complex international environment, our 
expectations should be realistic and sober.  Progress on accessions reflects the challenges and 
sensitivities of rapid, significant and uncertain changes in the global political economy.  I am confident that the Secretariat will continue to provide solid technical support and work with 
Members to both support the aspirations of accedi ng governments and ensure that the rules-based 
Multilateral Trading System is safeguarded and strengthened.   
3. The fundamental purpose of these Annual Reports is to inform Members of accession-related 
developments.  These reports also monitor how accession results and the performance of 
Article XII Members are contributing to safeguarding, consolidating and strengthening the WTO.  This is why annual reporting on operational developments is combined with a thematic focus.  
The thematic focus this year is on the systemic obligation of transparency and its implementation.  
Section V reviews specific transparency commitments, compliance with notification obligations by Article XII Members and, compares these to the compliance of original Members.  
The transparency obligation is one of the pillars of the rules-based Multilateral Trading System.  
It is necessary for the functioning of the system because it creates predictability, confidence, 
directs the floodlights of an open trading system on the latest and less detectable forms of 
protectionism, and is a companion to WTO Dispute Settlement.  This year's review shows that the range of transparency commitments of Article XII Members has exceeded those of original 
Members.  Compared, on implementation, Article XII Members have had a consistently higher 
average notification rate than original Member s.  On average, Article XII Members submitted 
between 5 to 11 more notifications annually, compar ed to an original Member.  This has improved 
the Membership's overall compliance rate with WTO notification requirements.  As a consequence, 
transparency commitments in Accession Protocols have reinforced and enhanced existing transparency requirements under the WTO Agreem ent.  In sum, accession process and results 
have contributed to the overall drive of the WT O to enhance systemic transparency and ensure 
stability, security and predictability.   
4. After the most recent accessions, there are 23 Working Parties (WPs), of which 
approximately 13 are active.  On the substance of these WPs, last September, the Working Party 
on the Accession of Yemen concluded its work.  The Report of the Working Party was adopted 
ad referendum .  The formal decision on the terms of membership will be taken by Members at the 
Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali.  Significant technical work has been undertaken on several.  The WPs on the Accessions of Bosnia and Herzeg ovina and Kazakhstan have advanced to their 
final stages.  On the Accession of Kazakhstan, a major challenge is the question of tariff 
adjustment and associated compensation.  This qu estion is rooted in the differences between the 
tariff concessions by Kazakhstan in its Consolid ated Draft Goods Schedule, the Goods Schedule of WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  the Russian Federation and the Common External  Tariff (CET) of the Customs Union (CU).  
This tariff question is complex and unique; the system has never addressed a similar situation 
before.  Next year, different approaches will be explored and taken forward to find a solution.   
5. Technical work was significantly advanced on the Accessions of Afghanistan, The Bahamas 
and Seychelles.  These accessions are entering into decisive stages and will be in technical focus in 2014, as reflected in the Evolving Cale ndar of Accessions Meetings (ECAM).   
6. The combination of technical assistance and outreach by the Secretariat are key in 
supporting Members and Acceding Governments in their negotiations; and improving understanding of the meaning of the effects and results from accessions for the future of the 
Organization.  This is why we have maintained the "dialogue" in the annual outreach cycle with 
WTO regional groups and different coalitions.  I intend to take this dialogue further and deeper in 2014, as part of the regular work of the Organizati on.  In this regard, the contributions of Working 
Party Chairpersons are vital.  Their efforts have  been instrumental in working with Acceding 
Governments to explain and encourage and provide good offices to resolve difficulties in bilateral negotiations, when the relevant parties request such assistance.   
7. We have gained accelerated traction on accession-specific technical assistance.  This has 
been due, in large part, to specialized programmes and activities by several Members, including 
Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union (EU) and its individual member states, India and the 
United States (US).  I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to these Members and others 
and urge them to sustain the momentum in 2014.   
8. This is my first Annual Report on Accessions.  I would like to re-iterate that it is a strategic 
priority for me as Director-Gener al.  I invite Members to review and comment on the contents of 
this report.  I reaffirm my full  commitment, in coordination with Members, to continue working 
with the Secretariat to upgrade and improve on our delivery to the entire Membership. 
II.  2013 DEVELOPMENTS 
 (A) ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES:  AN OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 
9. In the year under review, 24 acceding governments were in the process of WTO accession 
(see Annex 3).  Accession negotiations are managed by a combination of formal and/or informal 
multilateral, Plurilateral and bilateral meetings (see Annex 1).  In the year under review: 
- Eleven (11) formal Working Party meetings were held.  These were on the Accessions of: 
Afghanistan (one
1 meeting); Algeria (one2 meeting); Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(two3 meetings); Kazakhstan (44 meetings); Serbia (one5 meeting); and Seychelles 
(two6 meetings); 
- One (1) final formal Working Party meeting was convened on the Accession of Yemen on 
26 September 2013.  At this meeting, the Draft Accession Package of Yemen was adopted 
on an ad referendum basis by the Working Party; 
- One (1) informal consultation/meeting took place (Belarus); and - Eleven (11) Plurilateral meetings addressed specific technical issues (e.g. agriculture; SPS; 
TBT; TRIMs) on the Accessions of Afghanistan; Algeria; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kazakhstan 
and Seychelles. 
                                               
1 July 2013  
2 April 2013  
3 March and June 2013 
4 Cycle of meetings took place in the mo nths of March; June; July and October. 
5 June 2013  
6 June and November 2013 WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  10. In 2013, documentation progress was registered as follows: 
- a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) was circulated for the Working Party 
on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros; 
- a Factual Summary of Points Raised (hereafter "Factual Summary") was prepared by the 
Secretariat for the Working Party on the Acce ssion of The Bahamas and forwarded to Nassau 
for factual updates and comments;  
- the Elements of a draft Working Party Report were circulated for the Working Party on the 
Accession of Seychelles; 
- first versions of a draft Report of the Working Party were circulated for the Working Parties 
on the Accessions of Afghanistan; Azerbaijan and Seychelles;  
- draft Reports were revised by the Secretariat for three Working Parties - Algeria; Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (two revisions); Kazakhstan (four revisions); and 
- the Draft Accession Package of Yemen, adopted on an ad referendum  basis, was re-issued in 
the WT/ACC- and Ministerial Conference series, for formal action by the 9th WTO Ministerial 
Conference in Bali7.   
 
(B) WORKING PARTY CHAIRPERSONS 
11. One new Working Party Chairperson was appointed at the end of 2012, and two new 
Working Party Chairpersons were appointed in 2013.  Specifically, following consultations with 
WTO Members, the Chairperson of the General Council announced that  
a. H.E. Ambassador Selim KUNERALP (Turkey) was appointed Chairperson of the 
Working Party on the Accession of Belarus in December 20128;  
b. H.E. Ambassador CHOI Seokyoung (Korea) was appointed Chairperson of the 
Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan in January 20139; and  
c. H.E. Ambassador Luis Enrique CHÁVEZ BASAGOITIA (Peru) was appointed 
Chairperson of the Working Party on the A ccession of the Union of the Comoros in 
September 2013.10    
Traditional background briefings for all three new Chairpersons were organized by the 
WTO Secretariat.   
12. At present, there are six Chairmanship vacancies (see Figure 1 and Annex 3).  
These vacancies include the accessions at the initial stages, where no documentary basis for work 
exists at this time, i.e. the Memoranda on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTRs)11 and initial market 
access offers are yet to be submitted to the WTO Secretariat.  
                                               
7 WT/MIN(13)/4; WT/MIN(13)/4/Add.1; WT/MIN(13)/4/Add.2  
8 Announcement by the General Council Chairperso n by fax communication, dated 18 December 2012 
9 Announcement by the General Council Chairperso n by fax communication, dated 25 January 2013 
10 Announcement by the General Council Chairperson by fax communication, dated 18 September 2013 
11 Prepared by the acceding government, the MFTR is a document, which provides factual information on the acceding 
government's foreign trade regime.  Once circulated, it triggers the Working Party process and serves as a basis for the 
examination of the acceding government's foreign trade regi me by Members.  The practice has emerged to appoint a 
Working Party Chairperson following the submission of the MFTR and Replies to Questions on the MFTR.   WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  Figure 1 - Accession Working Party Chairmanships in 2013, by number 
 
 
13. In 2013, there were three visits to Seychelles.   In February, the Chairperson of the Working 
Party on the Accession of the Republic of Seyche lles and the WTO Secretariat visited Victoria.  
The purpose of this visit was to consult with Senior  Officials of the Government of the Republic of 
Seychelles to identify steps that needed to be  taken to substantively advance the WTO accession 
of Seychelles.  This was followed-up, in April, by a technical assistance mission by the Accessions 
Division, and at the end of July, by a Secretariat-organized Customized Technical Assistance and 
Capacity-Building Workshop, which was led by th e Chairperson of the Working Party.  On the 
margins of this Workshop, the Working Party Ch airperson and the Director of the Accessions 
Division met with Authorities at all levels of Government to facilitate the WTO accession of 
Seychelles.  One of the tangible results of the technical support provided on the Accession of 
Seychelles thus far is reflected in the substantive upgrade of the documentation from Factual 
Summary to Draft Working Party Report and improved market access offers.   
14. The Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 
Secretariat team visited Sarajevo in June 2013.  In the course of the visit, the Delegation 
participated in a Round Table (RT) on the "White  Paper on Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Trade 
Policy", and held several meetings with the nego tiating team to review and discuss outstanding 
work on the elements of the emerging draft Accessi on Package.  The overall effort was to explain 
the accession process to the participating range of stakeholders and what WTO Membership would mean for Bosnia and Herzegovina.   
(C) TRANSPARENCY IN THE ACCESSION PROCESS 
15. Ensuring transparency and predictability in the accession process remain key priorities for 
the Membership and the WTO Secretariat.  In 2013, transparency measures and initiatives 
introduced over the past four years have continue d to be implemented and further strengthened.   
i. Informal Group on Accessions (IGA) 
16. The Informal Group on Accessions
12 held 9 meetings13 in 2013.  Consultations in the 
Informal Group were focused on:  (i) sharing and exchanging accessions-related information with 
Members; (ii) Secretariat reports to Members on technical developments in accession processes; 
(iii) reports to Members by Chairpersons of Working Parties on the results of their country visits; 
(iv) planning accession meetings and related activities, based on the Evolving Calendar of 
                                               
12 Chaired by the WTO Secretariat 
13 25 January 2013; 27 February 2013; 22 March 2013; 26 Ap ril 2013; 30 May 2013; 24 June 2013; 19 July 2013; 
20 September 2013; and 8 November 2013.   WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  Accession Meetings (ECAM) proposed by the Secr etariat; and (v) addressing specific concerns 
raised by Members and Acceding Governments.   
ii. WTO Accessions Newsletter 
17. The WTO Accessions Newsletter provides A cceding Governments, Chairpersons and 
Members with a summary report of the meetings of the Informal Group on Accessions (IGA).  
The Newsletter also contains operationally relevant information to assist with the preparations for 
meetings and negotiations associated with their accession.  It is one of several practical steps by the WTO Secretariat to ensure transparency on accession matters.
14  Since mid-2013, the 
preparation of the Newsletter has also been used as a "training instrument" for Secretariat 
Accession interns, including participants in the China and LDCs' Accession Internship Programme.  
These Newsletters are prepared under various levels of internal Secretariat supervision.  
The Secretariat prepared 10 WTO Accessions Newsletters this year.15   
iii. 2013 Annual Outreach Dialogue with WTO groupings 
18. In 2013, the practice of outreach with various WTO groupings was deepened to reflect focus 
on specific questions and concerns of each WTO Membership grouping.  The overall purpose is to 
report to Members on activities in the calendar  year, ask for Members' feedback and identify 
concerns to be addressed.  This year, the Secretariat met with the LDCs' Consultative Group16, the 
Informal Group of Developing Countries17, the Asian Group of Developing Members18, 
the GRULAC19, the African Group20 and the Arab Group21.  In these meetings, the Secretariat 
briefed the Groups on the state-of-play of accessions; reported on Secretariat activities; exchanged views on the responsibilities of re gional neighbours/groups; discussed Acceding 
Governments' and Members' concerns raised; and consulted on accessions in technical focus for 
2014.  These outreach activities have assisted in building greater ownership for WTO accessions.   
(D) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH 
19. "Accessions" and "Post-accession issues" are two of the four broad-based technical 
assistance (TA) priority areas identified in the WTO Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan 
for 2012-2013 (hereinafter "the Plan").
22  In the Plan, priority attention has been accorded to 
acceding Least-developed countries (LDCs).   
20. Traditionally, accession-related technical assistance and capacity-building focus on training 
for government officials.  These activities also cover outreach and awareness-raising activities for 
Parliamentarians, the private sector, academia, civil society and the media.  
21. In 2013, technical assistance and capacity-building activities included:  (i) national 
seminars; (ii) sessions on accessions in advanced trade policy courses, regional courses and introductory courses for LDCs; (iii) workshops;  (iv) technical missions; (v) Working Party 
Chairpersons' visits; (vi) establishment/upgrade of WTO Reference Centres; (vii) e-Learning; 
(viii) outreach dialogue with WTO groupings; and (ix) participation in conferences.  As part of the Secretariat objective to enhance transparency, the Secretariat has also provided detailed 
information to newly arrived Delegates in Geneva during the 2013 WTO Introduction Days 
(in March and November).  Customized briefings on accessions for delegations (including non-residents) were also provided during the 26
th and 27th Geneva Week, held in May and 
November 2013. 
                                               
14 In 2013, the number of registered recipi ents of the newsletter rose to 505.   
15 January; February; March; April; May; June; July; September; September Special Edition; November 
See:  http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/newsletter_archive_e.htm   
16 22 May 2013 
17 25 June 2013 
18 15 July 2013  
19 28 October 2013 
20 28 October 2013  
21 1 November 2013   
22 WT/COMTD/W/180/Rev.1. WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  22. In addition to these activity types (modes of  TA delivery), the Secretariat also initiated 
and/or participated in video conferences; te lephone conferences; and dedicated electronic 
exchanges, in the supply of accessi on-related TA and the formation of institutional partnerships.  
In the year under review, these modes of supply have been used, for example, on the Accessions 
of Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Liberia, Iraq and Seychelles.   
23. In the course of the year, Acceding Governments were invited to participate in over 
100 WTO TA activities.  Six Acceding Governments acted as hosts for some of these activities - 
Azerbaijan (July); Ethiopia (January, March and June); Bosnia and Herzegovina (June and October); Iran (May); Kazakhstan (October); and, Se ychelles (February, April, July and August).   
24. Accession-related TA and capacity-building were also provided by other institutions, and 
often in partnership with WTO Members.  The WTO Secretariat participated in events organized by 
various multilateral, regional and/or national institutions and business associations.  
These activities took place in Paris, Istanbul and Astana.  They provided opportunities for 
outreach, knowledge sharing and information to participants about WTO accessions.   
25. Of particular note is the collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the 
Joint WTO-ITC Programme of Trade Capacity for Acceding LDCs, launched on 1 December 2009.  
This Joint Programme focuses on the private sector's  trade-related TA and capacity-building needs.  
For the period under review, support under this programme was extended to Yemen (LDC) and the 
African region.  This Joint Programme is designed to assist the private sector, parliamentarians and government officials in enhancing their understanding of the accession process and 
WTO Membership, as well as in building capacity among the business community to identify and 
seize new trade and investment opportunities.   
i. Global Seminar on WTO Accessions 
26. The first Global Seminar on WTO Accessions took place from 23 to 27 September 2013, in 
Geneva.  The seminar provided an opportunity for officials of Acceding Governments and 
WTO Members to exchange views, share experience s and best-practices on accessions.  The main 
objectives were to:  (i) strengthen the expertise of accession negotiators; (ii) initiate the process of stocktaking of the results from the 31 concluded Article XII accessions; and (iii) review how 
these results have served to safeguard and strengthen the rules-based Multilateral Trading 
System.   
27. Sixty (60) participants were registered for the seminar.
23  The various sessions of the 
Seminar were covered by Working Party Chairpersons; representatives of WTO Members; Acceding Governments; and the WTO Secretariat.  As part of  the programme, the participants also attended 
the Final Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Yemen on 26 September 2013.  
The feedback received following the activity indicated that WTO Members and Acceding Governments specifically valued the roundtable sessions with former Chief Negotiators and 
Working Party Chairpersons.   
28. Another Global Seminar on WTO Accessions is envisaged in the Biennial TA Plan for 
2014-2015
24.   
ii. China LDCs' and Accessions programme 
29. China's "Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme" (hereafter:  
China Programme) was established by the Government of China with the WTO on 14 July 2011.  
It was renewed and extended by the Government of China with a contribution of US$400,000 in 
                                               
23 50 officials from 18 acceding governments; and 10 officials from 10 WTO Member governments  This figure does not 
include the participants with a regular badge to the WTO (i.e. Delegates and Secretariat) or those that participated with daily  
visitor badges (i.e. representatives of other Geneva-based international organizations).   
24 WT/COMTD/W/200, dated 17 October 2013 WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  July 2012.  The China Programme is aimed at strengthening LDCs' participation in the WTO and 
assisting acceding LDCs in joining the WTO.  The China Programme comprises three main pillars:  
(a) the WTO Accessions Internship Programme; (b ) an annual high-level WTO Accessions Round 
Table Meeting; and (c) support to improve the participation of officials of LDCs in WTO meetings. 
30. In the year under review, five more interns25 benefited from this Programme.  Two new 
interns have been selected for the next cycle, which is expected to start in January 2014.   
iii. Second China Round Table on Accessions 
31. The Second High-Level Round Table (RT) on WTO Accessions took place in Luang Prabang, 
Lao PDR, from 15 to 18 October 2013.  The theme of this year's RT was the "Future of the 
Multilateral Trading System: Perspectives of LDCs  and Article XII Members".  The purpose of the 
Round Table was to:  (i) review contributions of WTO accessions to the rules-based Multilateral 
Trading System; (ii) initiate the process of stocktaking of accessions in view of MC9; (iii) identify 
priorities, within an overall plan, to support the remaining acceding LDCs; and (iv) reinforce the network of acceding LDCs' Chief Negotiators.   
32. The thematic focus of this year's Round Tabl e was on the Future of the Trading System:  
Perspectives of Article XII Members and Least-Developed Countries (LDCs).  There were 
six sessions at the RT.  The starting point was a review of the main features defining the 
contemporary global economy and the identification  of the main developments with implications 
for trade policy both within the WTO and the wi der global trading system.  Dedicated sessions 
addressed questions ranging accross the contributions of WTO Accession to the Multilateral Trading 
System (MTS); the Macroeconomic Implications of WTO Accessions; the Future of the MTS; 
Effective Participation of Article XII Members and Acceding Governments in the MTS; and, 
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building.  The representative of Indonesia briefed the RT 
participants on the arrangements for the 9
th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali, 
3 to 6 December, and underlined the priorities an d highlighted the issues at stake.  The Round 
Table unanimously supported the deliverables for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference.   
33. Mr. Nam Viyaketh (Lao PDR), Minister of Industry and Commerce and host of the Round 
Table, on his own responsibility and with the agreement of the Round Table, addressed a Final 
Statement to me, as Director-General, and the Chai rperson of the General Council, requesting that 
the Statement be circulated, as a document of the General Council and the 9th WTO Ministerial 
Conference.26   
34. Thirty-six (36) participants attended the Round Table.  These included the Deputy Prime 
Minister of Samoa, Ministers and Deputy Ministers27, representatives of the World Bank, the 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Intern ational Trade Centre (ITC).  The RT benefitted 
from the contributions of leading trade economists.28 
(E) ACCESSIONS TOOLBOX (ATB) 
i. Accession Commitments Database (ACDB) 
35. The Accessions Commitments Database (ACDB) was launched in May 2012.  It provides 
access to all accession commitments and related information contained in Accession Working Party Reports and the Accession Protocols of the 31 Articl e XII Members.  The ACDB is available in the 
three official languages on the WTO public website (http://acdb.wto.org).  
                                               
25 2nd intern cycle:  Colombia and Ethiopia; 3rd intern cycle:  China and Nigeria; 4th intern cycle:  Yemen 
26 WT/ACC/20, WT/GC/153 and WT/MIN(13)/2   
27 Cambodia; China; Lao PDR; Liberia; Sao Tome and Principe; Tajikistan  
28 5 officials from 4 acceding government s; and 20 officials from 8 WTO Members WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  36. In 2013, the ACDB was updated to include the accession commitments of Lao PDR and 
Tajikistan.  The ACDB will be further updated to include the accession commitments for the most 
recently completed accession, i.e. Yemen, followi ng formal action by the Ninth WTO Ministerial 
Conference in Bali, in December.   
ii. Electronic Resources on the Members' Website 
37. Accessions-related resources can be accessed on the secure, password-protected Members' 
WTO website.  The platform provides Members also with access to the electronic versions of legislation ("E-legislation link") and other consultation documents submitted by acceding 
governments.   
38. The Register of Bilateral Market Access Agreements contains basic information regarding the 
bilaterals that have been deposited with the Se cretariat, namely:  the sector of the agreement 
(goods, services, or both); and the dates of signat ure and deposit.  The substantive content of the 
bilateral agreements shall, in accordance with long -standing practice, remain strictly confidential.  
Reports generated by the Register are also available on the secure Members' WTO website. 
iii. WTO Accessions Information Management  System Database (AIMS DATABASE) 
39. In 2013, the WTO Accessions Division continued its work on creating an Accessions 
Information Management Systems Database (AIMS database).  The purpose of the AIMS database would be to efficiently manage and organize Secret arial (Divisional) data, so as to provide easier 
access to available information.  A short-term result of the AIMS database would be enforced data 
integrity by providing easier access not only to  the official WT/ACC-; WT/ACC/SPEC-; or JOB/ACC-
documents, circulated as part of the WTO accession processes, but also for access to internal 
documents, for example, correspondence, speaking notes and background briefing notes.  In the 
long term, the AIMS database would have links to:  (i) other WTO databases, as part of the Secretariat-wide project of integrating WTO databases; and, (ii) the accessions section on the 
Members' WTO website.  The greater the transpar ency and ease of access to accession-related 
information, the greater the ownership for result s from WTO accession processes.  More open 
systems are stronger and more credible. 
40. In 2012, the AIMS database team completed phases 1 and 2 of the project, namely, the 
examination and review of existing accession-rel ated data and its respective categorization.  
This year, between January and June 2013, the Division managed to conclude the third phase of 
the project, the transfer of data into the deve loped categories.  The next phases, in 2014, will 
include the conversion of the categorized and tr ansferred data into database format and the 
development of an initial interface (phases 4 and 5).   
41. The AIMS database would be initially for internal use only (Divisional and Secretariat-wide).  
Password access would allow users to access either the entire AIMS database or only its subsets. 
III.  STATE-OF-PLAY IN AC CESSION WORKING PARTIES 
42. WTO accessions advance on the basis of interdependent tracks of multilateral, plurilateral 
and bilateral negotiations.  In the period under review, the Accession of Yemen was concluded.  
While some accessions progressed considerably in 2013, others have not advanced as planned due to a range of factors, including, but not limited to, continued negotiations with Members; technical 
complexities; domestic challenges; political choices to delay for more impact analysis, for example, 
re-ordered priorities, and/or immediate post-conflict situations.   
43. Afghanistan:  The 4
th Meeting of the Working Party was held in July 2013.  The first version 
of the Draft Working Party Report was circul ated in June 2013.  Bilateral market access 
negotiations with interested Members are ongoing on the basis of an initial market access offer on 
goods, circulated in November 2012, and an initial market access offer on services, circulated in WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 11 - 
 
  June 2012.  Three bilateral agreements have b een deposited with the WTO Secretariat (Canada, 
Japan and Korea).  Afghanistan's accession is technically advanced and rapidly maturing.  The next 
meeting of the Working Party will be co nvened in the first quarter of 2014.   
44. Algeria:  The 11th Meeting of the Working Party was held in April 2013.  The latest version of 
the Draft Working Party Report was circulated in February 2013.  Bilateral market access 
negotiations are ongoing with interested Members on the basis of revised market access offers on 
goods, circulated in February 2013; and services, circulated in January 2013.  Four bilateral 
agreements have been deposited with the WT O Secretariat (Brazil, Cuba, Switzerland and 
Uruguay).  The next meeting of the Working Party is envisaged for the first quarter of 2014, 
subject to a complete set of updated technical inputs.   
45. Andorra:  The Working Party held its first and only meeting in October 1999.  This accession 
process is inactive, and there are no indications of any intentions to re-start the process.   
46. Azerbaijan:  The 10th Meeting of the Working Party was held in December 2012.  The WTO 
Secretariat was mandated to upgrade the documentation, from the Factual Summary of Points 
Raised to a Draft Working Party Report.  Bilateral market access negotiations with interested 
Members are ongoing on the basis of revised market access offers on goods, circulated in 
September 2013, and on services, circulated in October 2013.  Four bilateral agreements have 
been deposited with the WTO Secretariat (Kyr gyz Republic, Oman, Turkey and United Arab 
Emirates).  The 11th Meeting of the Working Party is envisaged for February 2014. 
47. Belarus:  The last Meeting of the Working Party was held in May 2005.  Informal 
Consultations took place in May 2013.  The latest version of the Factual Summary of Points Raised 
was circulated in November 2012.  At this meeting, Belarus was asked to submit a complete set of updated technical inputs.  The WTO Secretariat was mandated to revise the Factual Summary on 
the basis of these inputs.  Belarus was also asked to submit revised market access offers for goods 
and services.  One bilateral market access agr eement (with Cuba) has been deposited with the 
WTO Secretariat.  The next Working Party meeting will be scheduled as soon as all relevant 
technical inputs have been received from Minsk, including the revised market access offers on 
goods and services; the revised Factual Summary of Points Raised has been prepared and circulated; and, the Chairperson of the Working Party has consulted with Members regarding the 
substance of circulated inputs.   
48. Bhutan:  The Working Party has held four Working Party meetings.  The most recent was in 
January 2008.  The latest market access offers on goods and services were circulated in 
November 2007.  The latest version of the Draft Working Party Report was circulated in December 2007.  The WTO Secretariat prepared a revision of the draft Report in 2008, but Bhutan 
is yet to submit its comments on the revised draft.  Although this accession is de facto  inactive, at 
the Second China Round Table in Luang Prabang in October 2013, the representative of Bhutan informed participants that the new Government was reviewing the dormant WTO accession 
process of his country. 
49. Bosnia and Herzegovina:  The Working Party held two meetings in 2013, the first in March 
and the second in June.  The latest version of the Draft Working Party Report was circulated in 
May 2013.  Eleven bilateral agreements have been deposited with the Secretariat on goods 
(Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the European Union, Honduras, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland); and seve n bilateral agreements deposited on services 
(Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, Kore a, Norway and Switzerland).  Bilateral market 
access negotiations with other interested Members are ongoing.  The next Working Party meeting 
is expected to be the final meeting.  The purpose of the next and final Working Party meeting 
would be to adopt the Draft Working Party Report, on an ad referendum  basis. WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 12 - 
 
  50. The Union of the Comoros:  The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) was 
circulated on 25 October (WT/ACC/COM/3).  The Working Party Chairperson was designated on 
18 September. The First Meeting of the Working Party would be scheduled as soon as Comoros 
completes its first cycle of Questions and Replies with Members.   
51. Ethiopia:  The 3rd Meeting of the Working Party took place in March 2012.  At this meeting, 
the Working Party mandated the WTO Secretariat to upgrade the Factual Summary of Points 
Raised to an Elements of a Draft Working Party Report.  The initial market access offer on goods 
was circulated in February 2012.  The next Working Party meeting will be scheduled as soon as Ethiopia submits the required inputs (i.e. replies to Members' questions) for the preparation of the 
Elements of the Draft Working Party Report, and its initial market access offer on services.   
52. Islamic Republic of Iran:  The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) was 
circulated in November 2009.  Questions from Members on the MFTR were forwarded to the 
Government of the I.R. of Iran in February 2010.  Technical inputs, including the replies to 
Members' questions, were circulated in 2011.  Before a Working Party meeting can be convened, consultations with Members would need to be undertaken by the Chairperson of the General 
Council for the designation of a Chairperson of the Working Party.   
53. Iraq:  The Working Party has held two meetings, the most recent in April 2008.  Iraq has 
provided a number of documentary inputs requested by the Working Party.  Iraq has yet to submit 
its initial market access offers on goods and services.  The next Working Party meeting would be scheduled as soon as Iraq submits its initial market access offers. 
54. Kazakhstan:  In the year under review, there we re four cycles of meetings of the Working 
Party on the Accession of Kazakhstan (March, June, July and October).  The latest version of the 
Draft Working Party Report (DWPR) was circulated  in September 2013.  The draft chapters on 
"Agriculture Policies" and "Sanitary and Phytosanit ary Measures" have not yet been incorporated in 
the DWPR. These two chapters are being reviewed at Plurilateral Meetings, chaired by the Secretariat.  On agriculture, a revised proposal was made by the Delegation of Kazakhstan in 
September 2013, and Members are engaging on the basis of this proposal
29.  On bilateral market 
access negotiations, 29 bilateral agreements on goods30; and 14 bilateral agreements on services31  
have been deposited with the WTO Secretariat.  On goods, the Consolidated Draft Goods Schedule 
was circulated to Signatory Members and the Acceding Government in September 2012; and 
"accepted" as "basis for the tariff adjustment exercise".  This exer cise is underway with relevant 
Members to take account of and address the differences between the tariff concessions by 
Kazakhstan in its Consolidated Draft Goods Schedule, the Goods Schedule of the Russian Federation and the Common External Tariff (CET) of the Customs Union (CU).  
On services, the Secretariat prepared the Consolidat ed Draft Services Schedule and forwarded it to 
Astana for technical verification in March 2013.  Kazakhstan is currently consulting with Members on technical matters pertaining to the Consolidated  Draft Services Schedule .  Upon receipt of the 
Draft Services Schedule from Astana, the Secretaria t will circulate it to all Signatory Members, and 
convene a Technical Verification Meeting.  The Working Party has advanced to its final stages.  A major challenge on this accession remains the question of tariff adjustment and associated 
compensation.  In addition, other issues remain outstanding.  These include, inter alia , local 
content requirements; tariff rate quotas; VAT preferences; agriculture; export duties; TRIMs; and SPS.  Finally, the WTO Secretariat is assisting Kazakhstan in the preparation of its Draft Schedule 
on ITA (Information Technology Agreement).   
                                               
29 JOB/ACC/36/Rev.5 
30 Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Bulgaria; Canada; China; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; 
the European Union; Georgia; Guatemala; Honduras; India; Isra el; Japan; Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Malaysia; Mexico; Norway; 
Oman; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Switzerland; Turkey; and the United States 
31 Australia; Brazil; China; Canada; Egypt; the European Union; India; Japan; Korea; Norway; Saudi Arabia; 
Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; and the United States WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 13 - 
 
  55. Lebanese Republic:  The 7th Meeting of the Working Party was held in October 2009.  
The latest revision of the Draft Working Party Re port was circulated in October 2009.  The next 
meeting of the Working Party will be convened af ter the Lebanese Republic submits the necessary 
inputs.   
56. Liberia:  The Working Party held the 1st Meeting of the Working Party in July 2012.  At this 
meeting, the Working Party mandated the WTO Secretariat to prepare the first version of the 
Factual Summary of Points Raised.  The next Working Party meeting will only be convened once 
Liberia submits the pending technical inputs fo r the preparation of the Factual Summary, i.e. 
replies to Members' questions; a Legislative Ac tion Plan; other supporting documents; and the 
initial market access offers on goods and services.   
57. Serbia:  The 13th Meeting of the Working Party was held in June 2013.  The latest version of 
the Draft Working Party Report was circulated in October 2012.  Twelve (12) bilateral agreements 
on goods (Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,  El Salvador, the European Union, Honduras, 
Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Panama and Switzerland) and nine (9) bilateral agreements on services (Canada, Dominican Republic, the Euro pean Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, 
Panama and Switzerland) have been deposited with the WTO Secretariat.  Bilateral market access 
negotiations with other interested Members are ongoing.  The next Meeting of the Working Party 
would be convened when outstanding domestic legislative action (pertaining to, inter alia , 
commodity reserves; commodity exchange; GMOs; and services) has been completed by Serbia.  
58. Sudan:  The Working Party has held two meetings.  The most recent meeting was held in 
March 2004.  A Factual Summary of Points Raised was circulated informally in September 2004.  
Two signed bilateral market access agreements have been deposited with the Secretariat (Brazil and China).  Updated technical inputs are pending, but more significantly, legislative and 
constitutional updates following the independence of South Sudan in 2012.  The Secretariat has 
been in regular technical contacts with Sudan to identify areas where updated materials and information are required.  This accession is dormant.   
59. Seychelles:  The 4
th Meeting of the Working Party was held in June 2013.  At this meeting, 
the Working Party mandated the WTO Secretariat to  upgrade the Elements of a draft Report to a 
Draft Working Party Report.  The first version of the Draft Working Party Report was circulated in 
September 2013.  Five bilateral agreements on goods (Canada, the European Union, Mauritius, 
Oman and South Africa) and four bilateral agreements on services (Canada, the European Union, 
Switzerland and South Africa) have been deposited with the WTO Secretariat.  Bilateral market 
access negotiations with other Members are ongoing.  The next Meeting of the Working Party is scheduled for 15 November 2013.    
60. The Bahamas:  The 2
nd Meeting of the Working Party was held in June 2012.  At this 
meeting, the Working Party mandated the WTO Secretariat to prepare a first version of the Factual 
Summary of Points Raised.  In August 2013, the WTO Secretariat received relevant technical 
inputs from Nassau (i.e. a revised Legislative Action Plan; a legislation notice; information on 
important licensing procedures; a consolidated set of Questions and Replies; a revised market access offer on services; and a consolidated set of agriculture-specific Questions and Replies).  
Based on these technical inputs, the WTO Secretariat prepared a Factual Summary and forwarded 
it to Nassau for factual updates.  The next Workin g Party meeting is envisaged for the first quarter 
of 2014, subject to the timely receipt of the Factual Summary from Nassau.  Bilateral market 
access negotiations are ongoing with interested Members, on the basis of an initial market access 
offer on goods, circulated in March 2012, and a revised market access offer on services, circulated 
in August 2013.   
61. Uzbekistan:  The Working Party has held three meetings.  The last meeting took place in 
October 2005.  Before the next Working Party can be convened, Uzbekistan is required to submit WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 14 - 
 
  updated documentary technical inputs, including information on its foreign trade regime; 
agricultural supporting tables; legislation and a Legislative Action Plan; revised market access 
offers on goods and services.  This accessi on has been virtually dormant since 2005.   
62. Yemen:  The draft Accession Package was adopted, ad referendum , at the 11th and final 
Meeting of the Working Party, on 26 September 2013.  The Working Party concluded its mandate 
and transmitted the Report on the Accession of th e Republic of Yemen to the Ninth WTO Ministerial 
Conference in Bali, for formal action. 
63. Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Sao Tomé and Principe, and the Syrian Arab Republic:  These four 
acceding governments are in the initial stages of their accession processes.  Their respective 
Working Parties were established by the General Council between July 2004 and May 2010.  
They have not yet submitted their respective Memoranda on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTRs) to initiate the process of accession negotiations.  Sao Tomé and Principe is subject to administrative 
m e a s u r e s  i n  c a t e g o r y  I I I .   T h e  S y r i a n  A r a b  R e p u b l i c  i s  s u b j e c t  t o  a d m i n i s t r a t i v e  m e a s u r e s  i n  
category I.
32 
IV. LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES' ACCESSIONS 
64. The year 2013 has been active for a number of Least-developed countries (LDCs).  
In February 2013, Lao PDR, an LDC, became the 158th WTO Member, while nine33 other LDCs were 
in the process of accession.  Later in the year, the Working Party on the Accession of Yemen concluded its mandate by adopting Yemen's Draft Accession Package, on an ad referendum  basis, 
and forwarded it for formal action by the 9
th Ministerial Conference in Bali.  This has further 
reduced the number of acceding LDCs to eight.   
65. On its part, Afghanistan registered substantive progress in its accession in 2013.  On current 
pace, the Draft Working Party Report is rapidly approaching its near-to-final version with only a 
few issues outstanding.  There are several critical decisions that Afghanistan is required to take.  It is expected that these decisions shall be taken in 2014.  On the bilateral front, most bilateral 
market access negotiations have been concluded with only a few outstanding.  Afghanistan's 
Negotiating Team is envisaged to be in Geneva in mid-November with the aim of concluding and signing several Bilateral Agreements with Members.   The next cycle of meetings is envisaged for 
the first quarter of 2014. 
66.  Following the submission of the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) by the 
Government of Comoros this year, the Chairperson of the General Council announced in 
September, the appointment of H.E. Mr. Luis Enri que Chávez Basagoitia (Peru) as Chairperson of 
the Working Party on the Accession of the Union of the Comoros.  In accordance with practice, the 
Working Party Chairperson will consult on the timing of the first Working Party meeting, as soon as 
a first cycle of Questions and Replies, by Me mbers and the Acceding Government, has been 
completed.   
67. There have been no new technical accession-related developments to report for Ethiopia, 
Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sao Tomé and Principe and Sudan.  Bhutan is reviewing the status of 
its WTO accession process. 
68. Although there are self-evident benefits from  WTO Membership, WTO accession negotiations 
challenge all acceding governments, in particular  Acceding LDCs.  The terms and conditions of 
WTO membership entail domestic reforms.  Accedi ng LDCs are challenged by limited technical and 
human capacity and financial resources to address the complexities of WTO accessions.  In 2012, 
the General Council adopted the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on LDCs to further 
strengthen, streamline and operationalize the 2002 De cision on "The Accession of Least-Developed 
                                               
32 General Council Procedures for Memb ers and Observers Subject to Administrative Measures (WT/BFA/W/274)  
33 Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Union of the Comoros, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sao Tomé et Principe, Sudan 
and Yemen WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 15 - 
 
  Countries"34 (LDC Accession Guidelines).  The recommendations were developed in line with the 
Decision adopted on 17 December 2011, at the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference35.  
The 2012 General Council Decision was adopted as an Addendum  to the 2002 LDC Accession 
Guidelines36.   
69. The provision of customized technical assistance (TA) by the WTO Secretariat to acceding 
LDCs, at all stages of the WTO accession process, remained a priority in 2013.  Technical 
assistance was provided to acceding LDCs through interactions with delegations in Geneva or in 
Capitals.  The China "Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme" has provided a significant boost to expanding LDCs' capacity for accession negotiations.  So far, seven (7) China 
Accession interns have been trained.   
70. In 2013, the WTO Secretariat continued its outreach dialogue with WTO regional groupings 
and the LDCs' Consultative Group
37.  
V.  WTO ACCESSIONS - TRANSPARENCY COMMITMENTS AND COMPLIANCE WITH 
 NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS 
1  INTRODUCTION 71. The thematic section of this Annual Report is ai med at providing an overview of the specific 
commitments on transparency undertaken by Ar ticle XII Members, and a snapshot of their 
compliance with WTO notification obligations.   
72. Transparency is a key obligation of the Multilateral Trading System, which underpins all 
WTO Agreements.  Adherence to transparency obligations is an invaluable tool for creating a 
predictable trading environment for all stakeholders and fending off protectionist pressures.  
The two fundamental requirements for ensuring  transparency are publication of relevant 
information on trade and timely notification of new trade-related measures and legislation.  
73. WTO Members place particular emphasis on transparency provisions in WTO accession 
negotiations.  Specific accession commitments on notification and publication have therefore systematically been included in all Accessi on Protocols.  These commitments seek to reconfirm  and 
strengthen  existing obligations under the WTO Agreement.  The WTO accession process has thus 
been used as one of the instruments for enhancin g transparency and safeguarding the rules of the 
Multilateral Trading System. 
74. This section:   
 outlines the established WTO requirements on transparency;  
 identifies the intersection points between Accession Protocol commitments (as 
contained in Accession Working Party Reports) and WTO notification and publication obligations; and  
 reviews empirical data for the 31 Article XII WTO accessions with a view to assessing 
their compliance with notification obligations. 
                                               
34 WT/L/508 
35 WT/L/846 
36 WT/L/508/Add.1 
37 22 May 2013 WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 16 - 
 
  2  WTO PUBLICATION AND NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS 
2.1  WTO legal basis, rules and procedures 75. The WTO Glossary defines a WTO notification obligation  as a transparency obligation , 
requiring WTO Members to report trade measures to the relevant WTO body if the measures might 
have an effect on other Members.
38 
76. Article X of the GATT contains the core transparen cy provisions relating to trade in goods.  
It governs the publication and administration of trade regulations and stipulates two key principles 
- transparency in existing trade regulations and uniform application of these regulations39.  
The transparency provisions stipulated in GA TT Article X are reaffirmed throughout the 
WTO Agreement.  Most publication requirements, su ch as Article X of the GATT 1994, Article III of 
the GATS or Article 63.1 of the TRIPS Agreement, are also subject to notification obligations.  
In addition to these general obligations, detailed notification requirements are also prescribed in 
the individual WTO Agreements dealing with a specif ic area of trade rules.  For example, in the 
case of services, Article V:7(a) of the GATS provides for a notification requirement concerning 
regional trade agreements (RTAs) and preferenti al trade agreements (PTAs); and Article III:5 of 
the GATS provides for third party notification.  
77. The timely notification and publication of trade measures  were recognized as key principles 
of the Multilateral Trading System in the GATT "Understanding Regarding Notification, 
Consultation, Dispute Settlement and Surveillance" of 28 November 197940:  
"contracting parties … undertake, to the maximum extent possible, to notify the Contracting 
Parties of their adoption of trade measures affecting the operation of the General 
Agreement, […].  Contracting parties should en deavour to notify such measures in advance 
of implementation.  […] [In] cases, where pr ior notification has not been possible, such 
measures should be notified promptly ex post  facto."    
78. The 1994 WTO Decision "On Notification Proc edures" builds on the 1979 Understanding and 
puts forward an indicative list41 of notifiable measures.  This Decision contains five key elements:  
a. a general obligation to notify in accordance with the "Understanding Regarding 
Notification, Consultation, Dispute Settlement and Surveillance" of 
28 November 1979;   
b. an objective to "improve the operation of notification procedures under the 
WTO Agreement [and] thereby contribute to  the transparency of Members' trade 
policies and to the effectiveness of surveillance arrangements"; 
c. a reference to the obligations under the WTO Agreement to publish and notify 
"including obligations assumed under the terms of specific protocols of accession , 
waivers, and other agreements entered into by Members"; 
d. the establishment of a Central Registry of Notifications (CRN)42 for all notifications 
submitted by WTO Members, which would be managed by the Secretariat; and   
                                               
38 http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/glossary_e/notification_e.htm  
39 Article X:1 stipulates that laws, regulations, judicial decisions and administrative rulings of general application "shall 
be published promptly in such a manner as to enable governments and traders to become acquainted with them".  Any 
agreements affecting international trade policy shall also be published.  Article X:2 prescribes that measures affecting trade be 
published prior to their application ("enforcement").  Article X.3 stipulates that laws, regulations, decisions and rulings be applied in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner. 
40 L/4907; BISD 26S/210 
41 Note:  This indicative list does not alter existing notification requirements in the Multilateral Trade Agreements in 
Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement or, where applicable, the Pluril ateral Trade Agreements in Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement. 
42 Note:  The CRN was established in 1995.  It is a WTO co mputer database, which records all regular notifications 
received by the WTO and records descriptive info rmation on each notification submitted.   WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 17 - 
 
  e. the Council for Trade in Goods would undertake a review of notification obligations 
and procedures under the Agreements in Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement.43  
79. Most WTO Agreements contain a one-time no tification (OTN) provision/requirement, 
i.e. notifications that require to be submitted only once, as well as provisions that stipulate 
regular/periodic or ad hoc  notification obligations.  The scope and content of these notifications 
vary from Agreement to Agreement.  
80. Transparency and notification provisions related to the schedules of concessions and 
commitments on goods44 and the schedules of specific commitments on services are found, 
respectively, in the GATT 1994 and the GATS.  Changes to the Schedules need to be duly notified 
in accordance with Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 and Article XXI of the GATS.45   
81. The WTO Secretariat has developed a Technical Cooperation Handbook on Notification 
Requirements (WT/TC/NOTIF-series)46, which although partially outdated, remains relevant.  
Updated information on how to complete and fulfil the relevant WTO notification requirements can 
be found under each specific WTO Agreement, as well as in manuals, guidelines, notes or codes of good practice
47, which have been developed by Members, or mandated by Members and prepared 
by the Secretariat.   
82. With regard to timelines, most notification requirements encourage prior notification of 
measures/regulations and some notification requirements stipulate a strict time period by which a 
notification has to be made.  However, in most cases the notification provisions contained in the WTO Agreement or notification guidelines are worded as soft law and stipulate that notifications 
need to be made "promptly"
48.   
2.2  Monitoring and Surveillance 
83. A core element of work in WTO regular bodi es is the monitoring and review of the 
implementation of the notificati on requirements under the WTO Agreement.  WTO Committees and 
Councils provide a forum for the review of new or amended legislation/measures, as well as any 
other matters related to transparency and notifica tion obligations.  Each WTO Member undergoes a 
periodic peer review of its trade policies and prac tices in a trade policy review (TPR) prepared by 
the WTO Secretariat and the Member under review.  
84. Additional transparency tools have also been mandated by WTO Members.  
The WTO Secretariat now periodically prepares trade monitoring reports and has developed a 
Trade Monitoring Database49.  The most recent monitoring report50 indicates that, in the year 
                                               
43 Note:  For Intellectual Property Rights, see the Deci sion of the Council for TRIPS of 21 November 1995 on 
"Procedures for Notification of, and Possible Establishment of a Common Register of, national laws and regulations under 
Article 63.2" (IP/C/2), see also notification-related IP Decisi ons in IP/C/3, IP/C/4 and IP/C/5.  For services, see "Guidelines  for 
Notifications under the General Agreement on Trade in Services " (GATS), adopted by the Council for Trade in Services on 
1 March 1995 (S/L/5) and Decision on the "Notification of the Establishment of Enquiry and Contact Points", adopted by the Council for Trade in Services on 28 May 1996 (S/L/23).  For notification requirements under the Trade Policy Review 
Mechanism, see Annex 3 to the Marrakesh Agreement. 
44 See also General Council Decision on "The Supply of Information to the Integrated Data Base", adopted on 
16 July 1997 (WT/L/225). 
45 Note:  All relevant data on bound tariffs is available on the WTO website in the Consolidated Tariff Schedules 
database, and some Members' applied tariffs are available in the Integrated Database.  Both of these databases are part of the 
Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal ("I-TIP"). 
46 This series includes notification handbooks on the following areas of WTO rules:  import licensing procedures; 
balance-of-payment provisions; tariffs and non-tariff measur es; safeguards; State-trading enterprises; trade-related 
investment Measures; anti-dumping; agriculture; preshipment Inspection; RTAs; SCM; rules of origin; SPS; TBT; Textiles and Clothing; Customs Valuation; Trade Policy Review Mechanism; TRIPS; and the GATS.  
47 For example, the SPS Committee developed recommended procedures for implementing the transparency 
obligations under the SPS Agreement, which are available in do cument G/SPS/7/Rev.3.  Another example for the SPS area is 
the WTO Secretariat "Procedural Step-by-Step Manual for SPS Notification Authorities & SPS National Enquiry Points".  An example for another area is the TBT Code of Good Practice.  
48 For example, Articles 5.8 and 15.2, paragraph O of Anne x 3 of the TBT Agreement; paragraphs 1 and 2 of Annex B 
of the SPS Agreement. 
49 This database compiles all the data from the regular trade monitoring reports, which are prepared by the 
WTO Secretariat.   
50 WT/TPR/OV/W/7 WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
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  under review, improved notification compliance rates were registered across all areas.  
Nonetheless, there remains scope for improvement with uneven and slow progress noted across 
WTO bodies.   
85. According to data retrieved from the Central Regi stry of Notifications (CRN), actual effective 
compliance is relatively weak.  Non-compliance with WTO notification obligations by WTO Members may be due to domestic human resource constraints; weak domestic coordination and 
administrative negligence; lack of technical in frastructure; and policy concerns.  A number of 
challenges have been identified:  
a. while all notifications are channelled through the CRN, the monitoring of the effective 
implementation of notification requirements is dispersed and decentralised - domestically 
between various ministries and agencies, and in the WTO, among a number of WTO bodies; 
b. no penalties exist for late submissions;  
c. while most WTO Agreements stipulate a binding notification requirement, many of the 
specific provisions do not explicitly define detailed requirements, procedures, formats or time-frames. 
3  ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS AND WTO NOTIFICATION AND PUBLICATION 
REQUIREMENTS 
3.1  Specific commitments undertaken in  Article XII accession negotiations 
86. WTO notification requirements are discussed in all Accession Working Parties and form an 
integral part of accession negotiations  and specific commitments .  In Accession Protocols, the 
majority of Article XII Members have made commitments reconfirming the principal 
WTO notification obligations.  In addition, in some accessions, commitments have been further elaborated to strengthen existing notification obligations.   
87. Accession Working Party Reports
51 are developed over successive Working Party meetings 
on the basis of written questions and replie s exchanged between Members and the acceding 
government.  As each acceding government is unique, commitment paragraphs are negotiated as 
a function of the specificities of the particular legal and economic framework and the dynamics of 
negotiations with the Members of the Working Party52.  Nevertheless, some patterns of 
commitment language have emerged over time.   
88. The transparency chapter of Accession Working Party Reports is traditionally divided into two 
sub-sections - "publication of information on trade"; and, "notifications".   
89. The first sub-section contains a description of the acceding governments' domestic regime 
for the publication of legislation.  In some cases, the commitment does not only specify that the Member has to publish/notify a measure prior to it s enforcement, but it also identifies the method 
of publication (Official Gazette/Journal, a newspaper or a website)
53; the level of detail that would 
need to be attached to such a notification; and the period the Member would need to grant for 
                                               
51 Note:  Each accession Package contains 5 components: (i) Decision; (ii) Protocol of Accession; (iii) Accession 
Working Party Report; (iv) Services Schedule; and (v) Goods Schedule.  The Decision, adopted by the General 
Council/Ministerial Conference, formally offers to the applicant the terms of accession contained in the Protocol of Accession and its Annexes.  The Protocol of Accession cross-references all specific commitments undertaken by the acceding government, which are contained in the Accession Working Party Report.  It also annexes the Services and Goods Schedules.  Accession Working Party Reports comprises 7 principal chapters:  Economic policies; framework for making and enforcing policies; 
policies affecting trade in goods; trade-related intellectual property rights; policies affecting trade in services; transparen cy; 
and trade agreements.  
52 Accession Working Parties are WTO bodies established by the General Council with standard Terms of Reference.  
They examine the acceding government's foreign trade regime  and identify the necessary domestic reforms to ensure 
conformity with the WTO Agreement.  All aspects of the acceding government's foreign trade regime are reviewed to ensure 
compliance with WTO rules. 
53 Examples:  Cambodia, paragraph 217 (journal or website); Cape Verde, paragraph 262 (official journal or website), 
Lao PDR, paragraph 243 (official website or news paper); Montenegro, paragraph 273 (website). WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 19 - 
 
  consultation and comments, prior to enforcing the measure.54  In other instances, the commitment 
includes a specific reference to the emergency and security exceptions granted under the 
WTO Agreement.55   
90. The second sub-section of the transparency chapter addresses notifications.  Here, the 
emphasis has been on ensuring adherence to the general notification requirements of the 
WTO Agreement and, specifically, the effective implementation of initial notification requirements 
from the date of accession.   
91. A review of the Accession Working Party Reports of the 31 Article XII Members indicates that 
a. 21 of 31 Article XII Members have undertaken specific commitments in the sub-section on 
publication of information on trade.  Out of  these, 5 Article XII Members were granted 
transitional periods for one part of their overall commitment by receiving a "grace period" for the establishment/designation of either an official journal or website.
56  (see Table 1 of 
Annex 4) 
b. 29 of 31 Article XII Members have undertaken specific commitments in the sub-section on 
notifications.  Out of these, 4 Article XII Memb ers were granted transitional arrangements to 
meet the general WTO notification requiremen ts.  Jordan, Lao PDR and Ukraine undertook 
the specific obligation to submit all remaining initial notifications no later than six months 
from the date of accession.  The Russian Fede ration undertook the specific obligation to 
notify a set of initial notifications, as identified in Table 38 of its Working Party Report57, 
90 days from the date of accession.  (see Table 1 of Annex 4) 
c. In addition to commitments undertaken in th e dedicated transparency chapter, specific 
commitments have also been undertaken in other chapters of the Reports, which reaffirm existing notification obligations under a particular WTO Agreement and, in some cases, 
reinforce them or explicitly link them to GATT Article X provisions.
58  Seventeen (17) 
chapters containing such Agreement-specific no tification commitments have been identified. 
(see Table 2 of Annex 4) 
d. In the chapter on State-owned enterprises and privatization - 22 out of 31 Article XII 
Members have undertaken a commitment to regularly notify their privatization programmes to WTO Members (see Table 3 of Annex 4).  Th ese specific commitments are not explicitly 
linked to a notification requirement under an y particular WTO Agreement, but are aimed to 
enhance transparency systemically.   
92. As part of the process of their accession negotiations, acceding governments have also been 
requested to provide draft notifications, in th e established WTO formats, in several areas of 
WTO rules.  Draft notifications have been requested on STEs; industrial subsidies; customs 
valuation; SPS; TBT; export subsidies; and agricultural policies.  In the majority of cases, 
                                               
54 Examples:  Armenia, paragraph 215 (2  weeks); Bulgaria, paragraph 40 (two weeks); Cape Verde, paragraph 262 
(reasonable period, i.e. no less than 30 days); China Prot ocol I.2(C) 1 and 3 (a reasonable period); Montenegro, 
paragraph 273 (reasonable period, i.e. no less than 30 days); Chinese Taipei, paragraph 219 (60 calendar days); Tajikistan, 
paragraph 343 (reasonable period, i.e. no less than 30 days); Viet Nam, paragraph 518 (no less than 60 days). 
55 Examples:  Cape Verde, paragraph 262; Lao PDR,  paragraph 243; Montenegro, paragraph 273; Samoa, 
paragraph 243; Saudi Arabia, paragraph 305; Chinese Taip ei, paragraph 219; Tajikistan, paragraph 343; Tonga, 
paragraph 180; Ukraine, paragraph 499; Vanuatu, paragraph 134; Viet Nam, paragraph 518. 
56 Lao PDR; Montenegro; Tajikistan; Ukraine; and Vanuatu 
57 Table 38 of the Accession Working Party Report of the Russian Federation covers the following areas: customs 
valuation; subsidies and countervailing measures; trade-related investment measures (TRIMs); import licensing; rules of 
origin. 
58 Source:  Accessions Commitments Database (ACDB). WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 20 - 
 
  Article XII Members were asked to commit to submit  the prepared draft notifications, immediately 
upon accession, to the relevant WTO bodies.59   
93. Only half of the pre-2008 Accession Working Party Reports contain specific transparency 
commitments related to the publication of information on trade.  This has changed significantly.  
Since 2008, all Article XII Members have undertaken a specific commitment reiterating the existing publication requirement under the WTO Agreement.  As a result of this recent trend, 
approximately two-thirds of Article XII Members have undertaken a specific accession commitment 
on publication of information on trade (Table 1 of Annex 4). 
94. It should be noted that the detail and scope of specific Accession Protocol commitments may 
vary from one Article XII Member to another.  China, for example, undertook a specific 
commitment in its Protocol of Accession (i.e. Ar ticle 18.1 and Annex 1A) to provide, during a 
specific period, information on a range of areas to relevant WTO bodies on an annual basis.
60  
The notified information would need to be provided in addition to the general WTO notification 
requirements applicable to all WTO Members pursuant to the WTO Agreement. 
3.2  Article XII accession process as preparatory for WTO Membership 
95. The review of notifications is an essential part of WTO activity and the responsibility of each 
WTO Member.  The accession process provides an invaluable training ground for preparing future 
WTO Members for effective participation in the system.   
96. To ensure compliance with WTO notification requirements and to benefit from 
WTO notifications made by other Members, governments need to allocate the appropriate 
resources and human capacity early on.  In particular, they need to develop an effective domestic mechanism for processing relevant notification information.  An internal coordination mechanism is 
indispensable for ensuring that relevant informatio n is disseminated to line ministries and agencies 
- to eventually make this information easily accessible to stakeholders.   
97. Under various provisions of the WTO Agreement, each WTO Member has legal obligations 
relating to transparency.  Over time, guidelin es and manuals have been developed by Members 
and the WTO Secretariat in various WTO fora.  On e of the objectives of these guidelines and 
manuals is to support and supplement the existing transparency obligations under the 
WTO Agreement, and ensure their effective implem entation.  These guidelines call on Members to 
adhere to certain best practices when new or amended legislation or measures are envisaged.  
The following is an illustrative list: 
- notify other WTO Members of the planned measure/legislation, in a timely manner; 
- share copies of the draft legislation/measure with other WTO Members on request; 
- grant reasonable time for WTO Members to review the planned measure/legislation and 
submit comments in writing; 
- discuss these comments on request; 
- take account of other WTO Members' comments and the results of any discussions; 
- explain to other WTO Members how their comments would be taken into account; and - provide additional information on the planned measure/legislation, if available and 
appropriate.  
 
                                               
59 Examples:  Mongolia, paragraph 3 (draft SPS; TBT; and customs valuation notification); China (Annex 5A); Moldova, 
paragraph 236 (schedule of notifications); Lao PDR, paragrap h 108 (draft notification on export subsidies); Ukraine 
(draft notification on State-trading Enterprises); Panama, para graph 113 (draft subsidies notification); Mongolia, paragraph 60  
(draft subsidies notification); Latvia, paragraph 75 (draft subsidies notification); Chinese Taipei, paragraph 99 (draft subsid ies 
notification); Ukraine, paragraphs 261 an d 264 (draft subsidies notification); Mont enegro, paragraph 136 (draft subsidies 
notification); Tajikistan, paragraph 182 (draft subsidies notification). 
60 Council/Committees on Trade in Goods; TRIPS; Trade in Services; BOP Restrictions; Market Access (including ITA); 
Agriculture; SPS Measures; Customs valuation; Rules of Origin; Import Licensing; TRIMs; Safeguards; and Trade in Financial Services. WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 21 - 
 
  98. In accession negotiations, acceding governments are routinely asked to adhere to the same 
principles throughout the accession process.  Th e objective is to ensure predictability, provide 
clarity, make trade-related information easily accessi ble and keep protectionist influences at bay.   
99. During accession negotiations, all Article XII Members are asked to provide baseline data, by 
completing checklists and questionnaires, in accordance with established WTO notification formats, such as questionnaires on STEs, import licensing, customs valuation, SPS, TBT and IP, as well as 
agricultural supporting tables (AGSTs).  This  work prepares acceding governments for the 
obligations of future WTO Membership.  Upon me mbership, new notifications would need to be 
prepared and submitted, as appropriate.  Drawin g on the experience gained during the accession 
process, Article XII Members are well-equipped to fulfil these notification requirements. 
4  ARTICLE XII MEMBERS' COMPLIANCE WITH WTO NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS 
100.  The preceding section provided an overview of  the range of transparency commitments on 
notification and publication undertaken by Article XII Members as a result of their accession negotiations.  Specific commitments are incorporated in the Protocols of Accession and become an 
integral part of the WTO Agreement.   
101.  The Accession Protocol commitments in this area have been negotiated with a view to 
reinforcing existing transparency requirements und er the WTO Agreement.  To keep track with the 
continuously evolving trading environment, some of these commitments have further enhanced the established WTO transparency obligations.   
102.  Particular emphasis has been placed on ensuring effective implementation in the 
post-accession stage.  The accession process has thus made a significant contribution to the WTO's overall drive to enhance systemic transparency.  
103.  WTO Members recognize the central role that transparency plays in a well-functioning 
Multilateral Trading System.  This has come into particular focus since the 2008 global economic and financial crises brought about a rise in protec tionist pressures.  Efforts have therefore been 
made towards improving the timeliness, quality and monitoring of regular, periodic and one-time 
only notifications
61.  
104.  Since 1995, approximately 43,134 notifications have  been entered in the Central Registry of 
Notifications.  Almost 16% of these notifications have been made by the 31 Article XII Members.  
This number is particularly significant considering that many Article XII Members have completed 
their accessions only relatively recently and, unli ke original Members, have not been subject to 
notification requirements since 1995.  This broad indicator suggests that Article XII Members have 
on average been more active in fulfilling their no tification requirements.  This general observation 
is substantiated by a comparison between the aver age number of notifications made by (i) original 
Members; (ii) Article XII Members; and (iii) all WTO Members.   
105.  Table 4 reveals that between 2008 and 2013, Article XII Members had a consistently higher 
notification rate.  On average, an Article XII Me mber submitted between 5 to 11 more notifications 
annually compared to an original Member.  This trend can be attributed to the fact that (i) the WTO accession process requires Article XII Members to put in place appropriate mechanisms for 
submitting notifications upon accession; and th at (ii) the specific transparency commitments, 
negotiated during the Article XII accession proce ss, have reconfirmed and strengthened existing 
notification requirements under the WTO Agreement.  
                                               
61 Note:  There are various types of notifications, i.e. initial, regular, periodic, one-time only, as well as reverse and 
ad hoc notifications.  Reverse notifications are not common, but can be made by Members, if they consider that another 
Member should have notified a certain action/measure.  Ad hoc  notifications provide scope for WTO Members to notify 
measures/actions (of an unforeseen nature), if taken. WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 22 - 
 
  Table 4 - Average notifications made annually, period 2008-2013 
 
* This includes Original Members and Article XII Members. 
(Source:  WTO Notifications database) 
 
106.  Notwithstanding the overall positive compliance rates by Article XII Members, a review of 
outstanding notification obligations by Article XII Members indicates that compliance with 
transparency, and specifically notification obligations, can be further improved.62  Table 5 indicates 
that although Article XII Members have on average relatively few outstanding notifications, 
significant variations in compliance rates remain.  Overall, compliance has improved in 
recent years; and in particular for Members acceding since 2008, which coincides with the renewed emphasis on systemic transparency.  
Table 5 - Outstanding notifications by Article XII Members (as of April 2013) 
72026
1738
20 20
1214
711102332
13
6111719
121724
22
725
91312
0510152025303540
Ecuador
Bulgaria
Mongolia
Panama
Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia
Estonia
Jordan
Georgia
Albania
Oman
Croatia
Lithuania
Moldova
China
Chinese Taipei
Armenia
FYROM
Cambodia
Nepal
Saudi Arabia
Viet Nam
Tonga
Ukraine
Cape Verde
Montenegro
Samoa
Russian Federation
Vanuatu
Lao PDR
Tajikistan
(Source:  CRN)63 
                                               
62 Source:  CRN - Outstanding notifications in the CRN.  
63 Note:  Complete data set not yet available via the CRN for Lao PDR, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. 
WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 23 - 
 
  5  CONCLUSIONS 
107.  The main objective of notifications in a rules-based Multilateral Trading System, with 
enforceable obligations, is to enhance transparency and ensure stability, security and 
predictability.  The "prior publication and notification" principle, guarantees that WTO Members have sufficient time to familiarize themselves with new or modified measures and legislation, prior 
to enforcement.    
108.  Like the WTO accession process itself, notification procedures and practices have evolved 
over time and have been refined and improved since they were first established in 1995.  The WTO 
accession process has kept up to date with these developments through the elaboration of specific 
commitments on transparency which, upon accession, become an integral part of the WTO Agreement.  
109.  The specific transparency commitments negotiated as part of the WTO accession process 
can be linked to the positive compliance behaviour of Article XII Members with publication and notification requirements under the WTO Agreement.   This is testament to the importance that 
WTO Members attach to strengthening existing transparency obligations and improving their 
implementation in order to safeguard the effectiv e functioning of the Multilateral Trading System. 
VI.  TRADE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ARTICLE XII MEMBERS 
110.  Overall, Article XII Members have recorded ra pid economic and trade growth.  Figure 2 and 
Figure 3 show that, in the period 1995 to 2012, trade in goods and services of Article XII Members 
registered average annual growth rates of 14.1% and 11.9%, respectively.  This was faster than 
the growth of global trade in goods and services, which expanded at rates of 8.3% and 8%.  In the 
period between 1995 and 2012, the value of merchandise trade of Article XII Members rose by 
approximately 700%, in contrast to world trade th at increased by approximately 250%.  Even if 
China, a major trader, is excluded from the calculations, the trend remains, with relatively small 
differences.  In other words, the trade growth of Ar ticle XII Members is faster than that of the rest 
of the world. 
Figure 2 - Value of total merchandise tr ade of Article XII Members:  1995-2012 
 (Index, 1995=100) 
 
Source :  WTO Statistics Database   WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 24 - 
 
  Figure 3 - Value of total trade in commerc ial services of Article XII Members:  
1995-2012  
(Index, 1995=100) 
 
Source :  WTO Statistics Database 
111.  Article XII Members have also registered strong trade performance in terms of their 
expanded share of world merchandise trade.  As shown in Figure 4, from 1995 to 2012, the share 
of world merchandise trade of Article XII Members increased significantly from 8% to 17%. 
Figure 4 - Share of World Merchand ise Trade of Article XII Members 
 
Source :  WTO Statistics Database 
VII. CONCLUSIONS - OUTLOOK 2014 
112.  In my first few weeks as Director-General, I have dedicated time to review the work of the 
WTO on accessions with the Director of the Accessions Division.  I have asked Deputy Director-General David Shark to assist me in this regard, drawing on his considerable experience, 
inter alia , in this area of work of the WTO.   
113.  I opened the first Global Seminar on Accession s on 23 September.  This Seminar covered all 
aspects of WTO accessions.  The Global Seminar was followed, from 15 to 17 October, in 
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, by the Second China Round Table on WTO Accessions.  This MoU-based WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 25 - 
 
  activity, focused on the theme of, "The Future of the Multilateral Trading System:  Perspectives of 
Article XII Members and Least-Developed Countries".  I believe that Members would have noted 
the accession-specific aspects of the "Report on the Second China Round Table" from 
Mr. Nam Viyaketh, Minister of Industry and Co mmerce of Lao PDR.  At the request of the 
Delegation of Lao PDR, the Report has been circ ulated as a document of the General Council and 
the Ministerial Conference (in document:  WT/ACC/20; WT/GC/153; WT/MIN(13)/2).   
114.  There is a uniqueness to the work of the WTO on accessions.  Although it is regular work of 
the Organization, at the same time, it is also related to the negotiating function of the Organization.  As provided in Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO, 
Membership of the WTO is pursuant to terms "…. to be agreed  …." (negotiated) with Members.  
There is also an angle from WTO dispute settlement.  In approximately 27 disputes
64, of which 
almost 20 have proceeded to panel stage, Accession Protocols and Working Party Reports have 
been cited.   
115.  This year's Annual Report indicates evident pr ogress but also the complexity of work on 
accessions.  The complexity is as much technical as it also reflects significant changes in trade 
policy, political and economic transformations, including in regional integration processes, and 
domestic reform challenges with in Acceding Governments.   
116.  There are several positive aspects in this year's Annual Report on the substance of Working 
Parties.  First, after a 13 year process, the Wo rking Party on the Accession of Yemen, completed 
its work.  The Draft Accession Package of Yemen was adopted ad referendum  on 26 September.  
The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference will formally adopt the terms and conditions of the 
WTO Membership of Yemen.  As Director-General , I congratulate Members for helping Yemen to 
cross the finishing line.  Second, significant technical work was advanced on the accession 
negotiations of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan and 
Seychelles.  The conclusion of any accession will be substance-driven, bearing in mind that, there is always uncertainty due to a range of factors and variables beyond the control of the WTO.   
117.  Specifically, on the Accession of Kazakhstan, I have reviewed the technical state-of-play on 
this accession.  The status of the Accession of Kazakhstan is advanced.  Progress made this year has brought it to the last stage of its negotiations.  There is uniqueness, technical complexity 
across several areas of its foreign trade regime .  The challenge and complexity have been 
magnified by the Customs Union (CU) between Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.  
Solutions will be explored in 2014.  WTO Members have always demonstrated pragmatism.  I am 
reasonably confident that pragmatism will prevail.  This is an accession of importance to the WTO.  
I am paying close attention to it also because of its systemic ramifications.   
118.  Looking to the year ahead, there are 23 Workin g Parties to manage, of which 13 are active.  
These will require the time, resources and attention of Members.  I encourage and appeal to Members to stay engaged and committed, working with those Acceding Governments that are 
similarly engaged with the adjustment of their tr ade regime for WTO conformity and with timely 
submission of meaningful inputs.   
119.  Every year, a thematic focus is identified and reviewed with major findings discussed to 
show the impact of results from WTO Accessions for the functioning of the rules-based trading 
system.
65  This is a valuable practice that will be maintained.  This year, the thematic focus was on 
transparency obligations of Article XII Memb ers, and how they have performed in the 
implementation of notification requirements when compared to all WTO Members.  I am pleased to 
                                               
64 WT/DS451; WT/DS450; WT/DS437; WT/DS433; WT/D S432; WT/DS431; WT/DS429; WT/DS419; WT/DS405; 
WT/DS404; WT/DS399; WT/DS398; WT/DS397; WT/DS395; WT/DS394; WT/DS390; WT/DS388; WT/DS387; WT/DS379; 
WT/DS378; WT/DS373; WT/DS363; WT/DS359; WT/DS358; WT/DS342; WT/DS340; WT/DS339 
65 2010:  "Trade Performance of Article XII Members"; 2011:  "Best Practices in Accession Negotiations"; 
2012:  "Accessions and Domestic Reforms".  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 26 - 
 
  report, as you have noted in Section V of this year's Annual Report that Article XII Members have 
contributed to strengthening the WTO in this critical area that is indispensable for predictability, 
confidence in the system, the monitoring function s of the WTO and countervailing protectionism.   
120.  Much of what has been achieved in WTO accessions is also due to technical assistance and 
outreach.  Several Members have been generous with  assistance and contributions.  On behalf of 
the WTO, I commend them for their support.  In the WTO TA Biennial Plan, accessions have been 
established as a priority for moving ahead with Results Based Management (RBM).  
The Secretariat will sustain and improve outreach with individual Acceding Governments and WTO groups to explain, improve understanding and work with all parties to deliver faster, to the 
extent possible.   
121.  Working Party Chairpersons are indispensable for progress on accessions.  They have made 
a difference.  They are involved, technically enga ged, and as observed, the Facilitation Mechanism 
for Yemen, contributed to a satisfactory solution that provided a win-win  for all parties.   
122.  I encourage Acceding Governments to persevere with their negotiations.  WTO Membership 
carries significant benefits.  The WTO accession process is a uniquely powerful instrument for 
domestic reforms and international cooperation.  It has raised the profile of trade in overall 
development policies and is a long-term commitment for trade integration.   
123.  Finally, WTO accession is a critical intersection point.  It links all aspects of the work of the 
WTO:  regular, negotiations and dispute settlement.  There are useful lessons to learn for all areas of work of the Organization.  WTO accession acquis  are of strategic importance in safeguarding 
and strengthening the WTO, as a rules-based Multil ateral Trading System, structured on a balance 
of rights and obligations.  As Director-General, I look forward to sustaining contact and working with Members and Acceding Governments to build on the considerable achievements so far. 
_______________ 
  
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 27 - ANNEX 1 - ACCESSIONS DIVISION WORK INDICATORS Years 
Formal WP 
Meetings  
Inf. WP 
Meetings/ 
Consultations 
Technical  
Verification 
Meetings 
(Schedules) 
Plurilateral 
Meetings 
Bilateral 
Meetings 
Divisional 
Meetings 
IGA 
Documentation 
Pages 
Processed  
Archiving 
Folders 
Processed 
Technical 
Assistance & 
Outreach 
Article XII 
Accessions1 
Newsletters 
Annual 
Reports 
Databases2 
Regional Group 
Annual 
Outreach 
2013 11 1 1 11 12 29 9 8,3343 0 28 (14) 10 1 3 6 
2012 22 3 2 20 10 29 10 19,865 0 38 2 11 1 3 6 
2011 15 27 3 20 9 33 10 17,269 1 12 4 9 1 1 6 
2010 10 11 0 3 25 41 14 4,829 39 15 0 4 1 1 4 
2009 10 11 n/a* 7 8 46 7 3,881 560 24 0 n/a* n/a* n/a* 9 
2008 18 14 n/a* 4 11 n/a* 4 8,172 n/a* 13 1 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2007 14 21 n/a* 7 11 n/a* 5 7,035 n/a* 14 1 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2006 16 25 n/a* 7 10 n/a* 6 7,646 n/a* 12 1 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2005 23 34 n/a* 21 19 n/a* 4 10,383 n/a* 15 2 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2004 26 19 n/a* 18 25 n/a* 6 7,907 n/a* 12 0 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2003 18 n/a* n/a* 9 22 n/a* 3 8,629 n/a* 8 2 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2002 16 n/a* n/a* 6 19 n/a* 2 10,284 n/a* 22 2 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2001 14 n/a* n/a* 10 9 n/a* 0 5,482 n/a* 20 3 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
2000 20 n/a* n/a* 8 12 n/a* 1 8,626 n/a* 8 4 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
1999 17 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 0 16,916 n/a* 5 3 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
1998 21 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 0 6,913 n/a* 7 2 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
1997 30 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 0 7,019 n/a* 17 0 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
1996 26 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 0 7,520 n/a* 9 3 (+55) n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
1995 17 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 0 3,869 n/a* n/a* 1 n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a* 
(Source:  Accessions Division internal data) 
 
*n/a: data not available . 
                                               
1 By date of formal adoption by the General Council / Ministerial Conference;  2012: Lao PDR (26 October) and Tajikistan (10 Dece mber); 2011:  Montenegro (17 December),  Russian Federation (16 December), 
Samoa (17 December), and Vanuatu (26 October); 2008: Ukraine (5 Fe bruary); 2007: Cape Verde (18 Dece mber); 2006:  Viet Nam (7 N ovember); 2005:  Saudi Arabia (11 Nove mber) and Tonga (15 December); 2003:  
Cambodia and Nepal (11 September); 2002: Armenia (10 December 2002)  and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (15 October); 200 1:  China (10 November), Moldova (8 May) and Chinese Taipei (11 November); 
2000:  Albania and Croatia (17 July), Lithuania (8 December) and Oman (10 October); 1999:  Estonia (21 May), Georgia (6 October ) and Jordan (17 December); 1998:  Latvia and Kyrgyz Republic (14 October); 
1996: Bulgaria (2 October), Mongolia (18 July) and Panama (2 October); and 1995:  Ecuador (16 August).  
2 Databases:  (i) ACDB; (ii) Register of Bilateral Market Ac cess Agreements; and, (iii) AIMS-Database (work in progress).  
3 This figure takes account of: (i) the documentation processed between January and October 2013; and (ii) the projection for acc ession-related documentation yet to be processed between November and 
December 2013, following the circulation of this Report.  
4 The Draft Package of the Accession of Yemen was adopted on 26 September 2013, ad referendum , and will be considered for formal adoption at the Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali.  
5 Granada; Papua New Guinea; Qatar; St. Kitts and Nevis; and, the United Arab Emirates acceded to the WTO after 1 January 1995, u nder the special procedures established by the General Council - WT/L/30.  
This procedure afforded these 5 acceding governments additional time to complete the negotiations of their Schedules.   
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 28 - ANNEX 2 - ACCESSIONS NEGOTIATED  PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XII 
Government* Membership Date Working Party Report Goods Schedule Services 
Schedule Protocol of Accession General Council Decision 
1. Ecuador 21/01/1996 WT/L/77 & Corr.1 Add.1 & Corr.1, 2 Add.2 WT/ACC/ECU/6 WT/ACC/ECU/5 
2. Bulgaria 01/12/1996 WT/ACC/BGR/5 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/BGR/7 WT/ACC/BGR/6 
3. Mongolia 29/01/1997 WT/ACC/MNG/9 & Corr.1  Add.1 & Corr.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/MNG/11 WT/ACC/MNG/10 
4. Panama 06/09/1997 WT/ACC/PAN/19 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/PAN/21 WT/ACC/PAN/20 
5. Kyrgyz Republic 20/12/1998 WT/ACC/KGZ/26 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/KGZ/29 WT/ACC/KGZ/28 
6. Latvia 10/02/1999 WT/ACC/LVA/32 Add.1 & Corr.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/LVA/35 WT/ACC/LVA/34 
7. Estonia 13/11/1999 WT/ACC/EST/28 Add.1 Add.2 & Corr.1 WT/ACC/EST/30 WT/ACC/EST/29 
8. Jordan 11/04/2000 WT/ACC/JOR/33 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/JOR/35 WT/ACC/JOR/34 
9. Georgia 14/06/2000 WT/ACC/GEO/31 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/GEO/33  WT/ACC/GEO/32 
10. Albania 08/09/2000 WT/ACC/ALB/51 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 & Corr.1, 2 WT/ACC/ALB/53 & Corr.1 WT/ACC/ALB/52 & Corr.1 
11. Oman 09 /11/2000 WT/ACC/OMN/26 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/OMN/28 WT/ACC/OMN/27 
12. Croatia  30/11/2000 WT/ACC/HRV/59 Add.1 Add.2 & Corr.1, 2 WT/ACC/HRV/61 WT/ACC/HRV/60 
13. Lithuania 31/05/2001 WT/ACC/LTU/52 Add.1 & Corr.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/LTU/54 WT/ACC/LTU/53 
14. Moldova 26/07/2001 WT/ACC/MOL/37 & Corr.1-4 Add.1 Add.2 WT/ACC/MOL/40 WT/ACC/MOL/39 
15. China 11/12/2001 WT/ACC/CHN/49 & Corr.1 
WT/MIN(01)/3 Add.1 
Add.1 Add.2 
Add.2 WT/L/432 WT/L/432 
16. Chinese Taipei 01/01/2002 WT/ACC/TPKM/18 
WT/MIN(01)/4 Add.1 
Add.1 Add.2 
Add.2 WT/L/433 WT/L/433 
17. Armenia 05/02/2003 WT/ACC/ARM/23 & Corr.1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/506 WT/L/506 
18. FYROM 04/04/2003 WT/ACC/807/27 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/494 WT/L/494 
19. Cambodia 23/04/2004 WT/ACC/KHM/21 Add.1 Add.2 WT/MIN(03)/18 WT/MIN(03)/18 
20. Nepal 13/10/2004 WT/ACC/NPL/16 Add.1 Add.2 WT/MIN(03)/19 WT/MIN(03)/19 
21. Saudi Arabia 11/12/2005 WT/ACC/SAU/61 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/627 WT/L/627 
22. Viet Nam 11/01/2007 WT/ACC/VNM/48 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/662 WT/L/662 
23. Tonga 27/07/2007 WT/ACC/TON/17 
WT/MIN(05)/4 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/644 WT/L/644 
24. Ukraine 16/05/2008 WT/ACC/UKR/152 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/718 WT/L/718 
25. Cape Verde 23/07/2008 WT/ACC/CPV/30 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/715 WT/L/715 
26. Montenegro 29/04/2012 WT/ACC/CGR/38 
WT/MIN(11)/7 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/841 WT/MIN(11)/28 
WT/L/841 
27. Samoa 10/05/2012 WT/ACC/SAM/30 
WT/MIN(11)/1 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/840 WT/MIN(11)/27 
WT/L/840 
28. Russian Federation 22/08/2012 WT/ACC/RUS/70 
WT/MIN(11)/2 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/839 WT/MIN(11)/24 
WT/L/839 
29. Vanuatu 24/08/2012 WT/ACC/VUT/17 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/862 WT/L/823 
30. Lao PDR 02/02/2013 WT/ACC/LAO/45 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/865 WT/L/865 
31. Tajikistan 02/03/2013 WT/ACC/TJK/30 Add.1 Add.2 WT/L/872 WT/L/872 
* Sorted by date of Membership WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 29 - 
 
  ANNEX 3 - WTO ACCESSIONS WORKING PARTY (WP) CHAIRPERSONS 
No. Government Date WP established WP Chairperson* Geneva-
based 
(Y/N) 
1. Afghanistan 13 December 2004 H.E. Mr. Roderick van Schreven 
(Netherlands) Y 
2. Algeria 17 June 1987 H.E. Mr. Pedro D'Alotto (Argentina) Y 
3. Andorra 22 October 1997 Vacant 
4. Azerbaijan 16 July 1997 H.E. Mr. Walter Lewalter (Germany) N 
5. The Bahamas 18 July 2001 H.E. Mr. Wayne McCook (Jamaica) Y 
6. Belarus 27 October 1993 H.E. Mr. Selim Kuneralp (Turkey) Y 
7. Bhutan 6 October 1999 H.E. Dr. Wolfgang Petritsch (Austria) N 
8. Bosnia and 
Herzegovina 15 July 1999 H.E. Dr. István Major (Hungary) N 
9. Comoros, Union of 
the 9 October 2007 H.E. Mr. Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia 
(Peru) Y 
10. Equatorial Guinea 5 February 2008 Vacant 
11. Ethiopia 10 February 2002 H.E. Dr. Steffen Smidt (Denmark) Y 
12. Iran 26 May 2005 Vacant 
13. Iraq 13 December 2004 H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale (Morocco) Y 
14. Kazakhstan 6 February 1996 H.E. Mr. Vesa Himanen (Finland) N 
15. Lebanese Republic 14 April 1999 H.E. Mrs Laurence Dubois-Destrizais 
(France) N 
16. Liberia 18 December 2007 H.E. Mr. Joakim Reiter (Sweden) Y 
17. Libya 27 July 2004 Mr. Victor Echevarría Ugarte (Spain) Y 
18. Sao Tomé and 
Principe 26 May 2005 Vacant 
19. Serbia 15 February 2005 H.E. Mrs. Marie-Claire Swärd Capra 
(Sweden) N 
20. Seychelles 11 July 1995 Ms. Hilda Ali Al-Hinai (Oman) Y 
21. Sudan 25 October 1994 Vacant 
22. Syrian Arab Republic 4 May 2010 Vacant 
23. Uzbekistan 21 December 1994 H.E. Mr. Seokyoung Choi (Korea) Y 
24. Yemen 17 July 2000 H.E. Mr. Hartmut Röben (Germany) N 
* As of 9 October 2013  
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 30 - ANNEX 4 - SECTION V-DATA ON TRANSPARENCY 
TABLES 1 TO 3 OF THE THEMATIC SECTION -  
SECTION V:  WTO ACCESSIONS - TRANSPARENCY COMMITMENTS AND COMPLIANCE WITH NOTIFICA TION OBLIGATIONS BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS 
 
Table 1 - SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS UNDERTAK EN BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS UNDER THE TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER OF WORKING PARTY 
REPORTS 
 
 Ecuador  
 Bulgaria 
 Mongolia 
 Panama 
 Kyrgyz Republic 
 Latvia 
 Estonia 
 Jordan 
 Georgia 
 Albania 
 Oman 
 Croatia 
 Lithuania 
 Moldova 
 China 
 Chinese Taipei 
 Armenia 
 FYROM 
 Cambodia 
 Nepal 
 Saudi Arabia 
 Viet Nam 
 Tonga 
 Ukraine 
 Cape Verde 
 Montenegro 
 Samoa 
 Russian Federation 
 Vanuatu 
 Lao PDR 
 Tajikistan 
Publication of 
information on trade   
                                                            
Notifications                                                               
Note:  Article XII Members are sorted by date of Membership .                       Source:  ACDB   
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 31 -  
Table 2 - SPECIFIC ACCESSION COMMITM ENTS BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS REAFFI RMING WTO NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS 
 
Ecuador 
Bulgaria
Mongolia
Panama
Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia
Estonia
Jordan
Georgia
Albania
Oman
Croatia
Lithuania
Moldova
China*
Chinese Taipei
Armenia
FYROM
Cambodia
Nepal
Saudi Arabia
Viet Nam
Tonga
Ukraine
Cape Verde
Montenegro
Samoa
Russian Federation
Vanuatu
Lao PDR
Tajikistan
State-owned; State-trading enterprises11111111111111 111111111111111
Ordinary customs duties 1
Tariff rate quotas, tariff exemptions1
Application of internal taxes on imports1**
Quantitative import restrictions, including prohibitions, 
quotas and licensing systems1 2 XXX 4 XXX
Rules of OriginX1 X
Pre-shipment (PSI)***11 1 1 1 11 11111 11
Anti-dumping, countervailing duties and safeguard regimes
11 1 1 1 1
Customs tariffs, fees and charges for services rendered, 
application of internal taxes to exports and minimum export 
prices1
Export subsidies
1 1
Industrial policy, including subsidies
11 11 1 111 1 12
Technical Barriers to Trade
1 5 1 X X 111 111
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 1 1 11 21 1
Trade-related investment measures (TRIMs)
1 11
Free zones, special economic areas1
Agricultural Policies1 1
Trade Agreements111 11111111111 111111111111111  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 32 - 
 
  Commitment makes reference/reaffirms a specific 
notification obligation under the WTO Agreement
1
Commitments makes reference to compliance with relevant 
Article of the WTO Agreement, which contains a notification 
obligation, but the commitment does not specifically reaffirm 
notification obli gation under the said Article. 1
X - commitment to abide by relevant WTO provisions on 
transparency and the provision of information about its rules of ori
gin and their a pplication. X
XX - reference made to transparency provisions under the 
TBT Agreement - i.e. Articles 2.1, 2.2, 5.1, 5.2, .4 and 
Annex 1.1 of the TBT A greement. XX
XXX - reference made to adherence to publication and 
provision of information, in conformity with WTO Agreement on Im
port licensin g Procedures. XXX
* This table reflects China's commitments, as contained in 
the Accession Working Party Report.  It is important to note 
that China also undertook specific notfication commitments in a range of areas in its Protocol of Accession, see Articles 6.2, 7.2,  8.1, 9.2, 16.7, 16.8, 18.1, Annexes 5A and  1A.
** Notification obligation only during phase out period, i.e. 
until 31 December 2008.
***Specific Transparency commitment/Article X under the 
Section on Pre-shi
pment (PSI)Commitments with reference to transparency provision (publication/notification) of WTO Agreement but not specifically underpinning/reaffirming notification obligation contained in the 
provision:
 
 
Source:  ACDB 
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 33 -  
Table 3 - SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS ON NO TIFYING ONGOING PRIVATIZATION PROCESSE S UNDERTAKEN BY ARTICLE XII MEMBERS 
 
  
 Ecuador  
 Bulgaria 
 Mongolia 
 Panama 
 Kyrgyz Republic 
 Latvia 
 Estonia 
 Jordan 
 Georgia 
 Albania 
 Oman 
 Croatia 
 Lithuania 
 Moldova 
 China 
 Chinese Taipei 
 Armenia 
 FYROM 
 Cambodia 
 Nepal 
 Saudi Arabia 
 Viet Nam 
 Tonga 
 Ukraine 
 Cape Verde 
 Montenegro 
 Samoa 
 Russian Federation 
 Vanuatu 
 Lao PDR 
 Tajikistan 
Specific 
transparency commitment to report on ongoing privatization 
process/programme 
                                                              
 
Note:  Article XII Members are sorted by date of Member ship.                    Source: ACDB  
 
   
  WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6  
 
- 34 - ANNEX 5 - SECTION VI-DATA ON  ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE  
Table 6 - Value of Merchandise Trade and Ye ar-on-Year Percentage Change:  1995-2012 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Article XII 
Members 
  Value     840  894  961   884   924  1,185  1,171  1,334  1,714  2,264  2,787  3,390  4,117  4,988   3,906  5,162  6,426  6,746  
Year-on-year 
percentage 
change   6.4% 7.5% -8.0%  4.5%  28.2%  -1.2%  13.9%  28.5%  32.1% 23.1%  21.6%  21.4%  21.2%  -21.7%  32.2%  24.5%  5.0% 
World 
  Value 10,450  10,950  11,333  11,184  11,636  13,184  12,679  13,238  15,458  18,793  21,378  24,593  28,352  32,731  25,332  30,786  36,818  37,002  
Year-on-year 
percentage 
change   4.8% 3.5% -1.3%  4.0%  13.3%  -3.8%  4.4%  16.8%  21.6% 13.8%  15.0%  15.3%  15.4%  -22.6%  21.5%  19.6%  0.5% 
Source:  WTO Statistics Database 
 
 
Table 7 - Value of Trade in Commercial Services and Year-on-Year Percentage Change:  1995-2012 
(Billion dollars and percentage) 
 
  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Article XII 
Members Value 153  166  186  174  175  196  205  231  267  340  396  474  606  716  638     753  873    959  
  Year-on-year 
percentage 
change   9% 12% -6% 1% 12% 4% 13% 16% 27% 16% 20% 28% 18% -11%  18% 16% 10% 
World Value  2,373   2,523   2,610   2,676   2,776   2,955   2,974   3,158   3,643   4,394   4,896   5,501   6,594   7,479   6,774   7,433   8,301   8,502  
  Year-on-year 
percentage 
change   6% 3% 3% 4% 6% 1% 6% 15% 21% 11% 12% 20% 13% -9% 10% 12% 2% 
Source:  WTO Statistics DatabaseWT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 35 - 
 
  ANNEX 6 - ACCESSI ONS MANAGEMENT 
 
Table 8 - Accession Working Party Management 
Accession Working Party Secretary Co-Secretary Admin. support 
Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division  
1. Afghanistan* Kebede (Intern) 
Varyanik  - Ferdi Demierre 
2. Algeria Pardo de León Ferdi Demierre Ferdi Demierre 
3. Andorra accessions@wto.org - No Activity   
4. Azerbaijan Pardo de León Kebede (Intern) 
Varyanik Tandara-Stenier  
5. Bahamas Lee Pardo de León Tandara-Stenier 
6. Belarus Beslać Varyanik Tandara-Stenier 
7. Bhutan* Lee - Tandara-Stenier  
8. Bosnia and 
Herzegovina Beslać Ayewoh (Intern) Tandara-Stenier  
9. Comoros, Union of the* Pardo de León  New interns 
awaited Tandara-Stenier  
10. Equatorial Guinea* Yu - Ferdi Demierre 
11. Ethiopia* Varyanik New interns 
awaited Ferdi Demierre 
12. Iran, the Islamic 
Republic of Varyanik New interns 
awaited Ferdi Demierre 
13. Iraq Varyanik Lee Ferdi Demierre 
14. Kazakhstan Yu  
 Varyanik  
Ayewoh (Intern) Chen (Intern) Ferdi Demierre 
 
15. Lebanese Republic Pardo de León New interns 
awaited Ferdi Demierre 
16. Liberia* Lee  Kebede (Intern) Tandara-Stenier 
17. Libya Yu Beslać Ferdi Demierre 
18. Sao Tome et Principe* Pardo de León - Ferdi Demierre 
19. Serbia  Beslać 
 Chen (Intern) Tandara-Stenier 
20. Seychelles Beslać  Ayewoh (Intern) Tandara-Stenier 
21. Sudan* Lee New interns 
awaited Ferdi Demierre 
22. Syrian Arab Republic Yu Besla ć Ferdi Demierre 
23. Uzbekistan Lee  - Tandara-Stenier 
24. Yemen* Yu  Ferdi Demierre 
Al-Akhali (Intern) Ferdi Demierre 
 
* Least-developed countries (LDCs) WT/ACC/21 • WT/GC/155 • WT/MIN(13)/6 
 
- 36 - 
 
   
Table 9 - Non-Working Party Workload Distribution 
 
Responsibility  Professional Administrative Manager/ 
Support 
Director-General's Annual 
Accession Reports  Director & Professional (rotating) Ferdi Demierre 
Informal Group on Accessions 
 Pardo de León Tandara-Stenier 
WTO Accessions Newsletter 
(monthly)  Director & Varyanik  Rotating interns 
Tandara-Stenier 
China Programme / MOU /  
Round Tables  
 Director & Yu  Ferdi Demierre 
China Programme / MOU / 
Accessions interns selection Director & Tandara-Stenier  
TA Focal Point / Annual 
Outreach 
 Pardo de León Ferdi Demierre 
LDC Focal Point 
 Yu & Lee Rotating interns 
Databases: 
 
 Accessions 
Commitments Database 
(ACDB) 
  
 
Yu (Design and Maintenance) 
 
 
  
 
Rotating interns (Data transfer) 
 
 
 
 Market Access Register 
 Ferdi Demierre (Design and 
Maintenance)  - 
 
 Accessions Information 
Management Database 
(AIMS database) - 
Work in progress 
 Beslać (Development - Phases 1 
to 3); 
 
Intern (IT background)/ 
To be recruited (Development - 
Phases 4 to 5) 
 Tandara-Stenier 
 
 
 
 
 Trade performance of 
Article XII Members Yu (Design and Maintenance) - 
Accessions Website Update 
 Working Party Secretaries Rotating interns 
Accession acquis  stock-taking 
project 
 Accessions Division  
 
ACCESSIONS STAFF DISPOSITION:   
 
- Director; - 5 Professionals; - 1 Professional position to be filled by internal mobility; - 2 Administrative Managers; - 1 Intern secretary, assist ing administrative managers; 
- 4 rotating China and LDC Accessions interns; and 
- 1 regular Accessions Division intern. 
 Total number of 4 interns to compensate for capacity gap. 
 
__________