WT/ACC/29, WT/GC/183  
WT/MIN(17)/1, WT/COMTD/94  
WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
28 March 2017  
(17-1692) Page: 1/9 
  Original: English  
 
FIFTH  CHINA ROUND TABLE ON  WTO ACCESSIONS  
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA,  20 - 22 MARCH 2017  
BEST PRACTICES ON TH E ACCESSION OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
The Siem Reap Statement  
22 March 2017  
The following communication, dated 28 March 2017, addressed to the Director -General, is 
being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Cambodia.  
 
 
_______________  
 WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  Communication from H.E. Mr . PAN Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Kingdom of 
Cambodia, addressed to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Director -General, on 28 March  2017  
 
I have the honour to inform you that the Fifth China Round Table on WTO Accessions "Best 
Practices on the Accession of the L east-Developed C ountries"  was success fully held on 
20-22 March 2017 in Siem Reap, the Kingdom of Cambodia.  
 
The discussion at the Rou nd Table enabled participants to dra w useful lessons with regard to 
WTO accession negotiation techniques, b est practices and LDC accession results, post-accession 
implementation along with key opportunities  and challenges, and reflection on the preparation  of 
LDC priorities for the Eleventh Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The Round Table 
also focused its discussion on the integration of LDCs into the multilateral trading system.  
 
Participants engaged in a rich, informative and interactiv e exchange of accession experience 
throughout the Round Table.  Participants also welcomed a remarkable presentation on post-
accession best practices.  Development partners including China,  IMF, ITC and the WTO,  shared  
with Round Table participants their assistance programmes.  In respo nse to this experience 
sharing, participants of the 5th China Round Table reiterated the significance  of technical assistance  
and capacity -building to LDCs during accession and post -accession.  
 
Please find enclosed herewith the Siem Reap Statement "Best Practices on the Accession of 
Least-Developed Countries ".  At the request of the Round Table participants and on behalf of the 
LDC Group, I would be grateful if you could circulate this Statement as a document of the Sub-
Commi ttee on Least-Developed Countries , the General Council and the Eleventh WTO Ministerial 
Conference . 
 
I commend your Secretariat Team for its excellent work in process an d substance to ensure 
that the S iem Reap Round T able was successful.  
 
 
 
_______________  
 
 
 
 WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1. The Fifth China Round Table on WTO Accessions took place in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 
20 to 2 2 March 2017 (hereinafter: the Round Table).  Sponsored by the Government of China, the 
Round Table was organized by the WTO Secretariat and ho sted by the Government of Cambodia.  
The Round Table was opened jointly by H.E. Mr. Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. 
Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce of China and Mr. David Shark, WTO Deputy 
Director -General.   
2. Opening statements acknow ledged the important role of the WTO in economic growth and 
poverty alleviation.1  At the current times of uncertainty and anti -globalisation, the international 
community would need to demonstrate solidarity and strong commitment to uphold the 
multilateral  trading system .  The accessions of nine least -developed countries (LDCs) to the WTO, 
including Afghanistan and Liberia which became the 163rd and 164th Members of the WTO, were 
welcomed.2  However, more work remained as eight LDCs were still in the proces s of accession.3 
While LDCs amounted to 12 % of the world population, their share in the world GDP and exports 
remained very low. Joint efforts need to be made for the faster integration of LDCs into the global 
economy, including through WTO accessions.  Ef forts had to be sustained and intensified to 
achieve outcomes of the Eleventh  WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) in December 2017, in 
Buenos Aires, Argentina, and, bring tangible benefits to LDCs, including acceding governments.  
3. The Round Table was the fift h in the China Accession Round Table process.  The specific 
thematic focus of the Round Table was on: "Best practices on the accession of Least -developed 
countries" .  Participants engaged in a dialogue on the state of play in ongoing WTO accessions of 
LDCs, best practices and LDC accessions results, accession negotiation strategies, post -accession 
implementation and associated LDC -specific questions and challenges.  The Round Table served to 
improve understanding on the specifics of LDC accessions and provi ded a forum to mobilise 
accession and post -accession support to LDCs.  It also reflected on the preparation for MC11, 
including LDC priorities for the Conference.  
4. The Round Table was attended by representatives from seven LDC acceding governments, 
seven A rticle XII LDC Members, including at the ministerial level.  Representatives of several other 
WTO Members and multilateral institutions also participated .4 
2  INTEGRATION OF LEAST  DEVELOPED COUNTRIES INTO THE MULTILATERA L TRADING 
SYSTEM: PREPARATION FOR THE 1 1TH WTO MINISTERIAL CONF ERENCE AND LDC 
PRIORITIES  
5. The Round Table focused its discussion on the integration of LDCs into the multilateral 
trading system, including their priorities for MC11, based on two presentations by Cambodia.  
Cambodia had taken over  as Coordinator of the WTO LDC Group from Benin in February 2017.  
A presentation was also made by Argentina, the host of MC11, on the preparation for the 
Conference, both on the process and the substance.  LDCs were a recognised category in the WTO,  
accou nting for one -fifth of its membership . LDCs actively participate in the work of the WTO and, 
through the WTO LDC Group, coordinate positions to promote their common interests.  Cambodia's 
coordinating role in the LDC Group for 2017 was welcomed by all part icipants.  The  importance of 
unity, cohesive and pragmatic approaches by the Group was stressed in achieving concrete 
results, including at MC11.  
                                                
1 Opening statements and presentations made during the Fifth China Round Table are posted on its 
dedicated webpage in the WTO at:  https://www.w to.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/chinaroundprog2017_e.htm  
2 In addition, Afghanistan and Liberia, they include: Nepal (2004), Cambodia (2004), Cabo Verde 
(2008), Samoa (2012), Vanuatu (2012), Lao PDR (2013) and Yemen (2014).  
3 These include: Bhutan, Comoros,  Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe , Somalia, Sudan 
and Timor -Leste.   
4 Participating LDC acceding governments included: Bhutan, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, 
Somalia, Sudan and Timor -Leste; Article XII LDC Members: Afghanistan, Ca mbodia, Liberia, Lao PDR, Nepal, 
Samoa, Yemen; other WTO Members: Argentina, China, European Union, Japan, Kenya and Oman. The full list 
of participants is available at: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/chinaroundprog2017_e.htm  
 
 WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  6. The discussion identified the priorities for the LDCs in the WTO, as the membership had 
started substantive d iscussions for MC11.  Participants re -confirmed that for LDCs, which were 
economically vulnerable and faced multifaceted challenges, the multilateral trading system was 
fundamental.  The Organization provided not only rules but also the framework to establ ish 
commercial policy and foster economic development.  In this context, calls were made for 
strengthening special and differential provisions through multilateral negotiations and 
implementation of the decisions taken in favour of LDCs in Bali and Nairobi  Ministerial 
Conferences, including on duty -free and quota -free market access, preferential rules of origin and 
the LDC Services Waiver.  The recent entry into force of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement was 
welcomed, as it would assist LDCs, especially landlocked countries, in reducing trade costs.  
7. The accession of eight remaining LDCs remained a priority for the Group in its efforts to 
promote further integration of LDCs into the multilateral trading system.  The recent progress in 
the accessions of Co moros and Sudan was welcomed, and they were encouraged to accelerate 
their accessions towards MC11, while also emphasizing that each accession must proceed at its 
own pace.  Other LDC acceding governments, which were at different stages of the accession 
negotiations, expressed their commitment to WTO accession, and expressed their readiness to 
engage accession negotiations with a view to making advancement.  In this regard, they 
appreciated the opportunities provide d by the successive China Round Tables whi ch served as "an 
incubator for LDC accessions" and provided a unique platform for experience sharing and 
mobilising various types of support required for accession.  
3  EMERGING BEST PRACTI CES ON LDC ACCESSION S – LESSONS LEARNED  
8. Participants engaged in a ric h, informative and interactive exchange of accession 
experience throughout the Round Table.  A presentation was first made by the WTO Secretariat 
which provided an overview of LDC accessions, including inter alia , (i) "LDC accession acquis", i.e. 
the resul ts achieved by the nine completed LDC accessions on rules and market access, based on 
a background document prepared for this meeting; and (ii) the st ate of play on the currently 
ongoing LDC accessions.  This was followed by the presentations on the specif ic accession 
experiences of Afghanistan (2016), Liberia (2016), Lao PDR (2013), Samoa (2012) and, Cambodia 
(2004) by the accession negotiators who had directly engaged in the respective negotiations.   
9. The IMF also made a presentation on accession -related structural reforms for economic 
growth.  Main recommendations from the presentation included: (i) prioriti ze structural reforms in 
line with policy priorities and own capacity; (ii) focus on infrastructure (electricity, water, roads 
etc.), agriculture, fis cal reforms and the banking sector; (iii) watch revenue implications of any 
reform; and (iv) ensure inclusiveness in outcome from structural reforms.  Commenting on the 
IMF presentation, the negotiators for the accessions of Comoros and Sudan stressed that  their 
accession pr ocesses were driven by their on going economic reform agenda.   
10. Other acceding governments, including Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia, provided 
the state of play on their accessions, including recent developments and possible next steps.  
Somalia and Timor -Leste, whose respective Working Parties had been established by the General 
Council in December 2016, reported on the state of preparatory work, including challenges at the 
domestic front.  Former and current Working Party Chairpe rsons for the accessions of Seychelles 
and Sudan also shared their perspectives on their role in the accession process.  
11. After these presentations, discussions were enriched by a series of questions and 
comments by acceding LDCs, Article XII LDC Members and  other WTO Members on various 
accession experiences, concluded and on going.  In particular, valuable experiences were shared 
from the concluded accessions, including of non -LDCs, for the benefit of the LDC acceding 
governments.  In these discussions, eleme nts for concluding a successful accession on the part of 
the LDC acceding government were identified, although each accession was unique and differed 
from one another.  Lessons learned and emerging practices in the accession of LDCs included:  WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  a. Policy level  
 Lock in priority WTO -consistent domestic reforms into WTO accession;  
 Develop an accession reform strategy as an integral part of the structural reform 
agenda;  
 Align the WTO accession process with regional integration process, if applicable;   
 Conduct a s tudy on its implications of WTO accession, including possible negative 
revenue implications from the alignment of tariffs, taxes, fees and charges with the 
obligations and WTO rules, as well as trade -creating aspects of tariff reductions .  
b. Accession  proces s 
i. Domestic process  
 Secure political commitment at the level of  the head of S tate, accompanied by an 
accession roadmap with timelines;  
 Appoint an accession chief negotiator (possibly, at the cabinet level) who has good 
access to the head of state, other ca binet ministers and the parliament, and who has 
a mandate to raise resources;  
 Establish a functional  intra-governmental coordination structure, chaired by a high -
level government official with decision -making power;  
 Identify a technical  negotiating team composed of competent professionals drawn 
from different ministries who can deliver specific components of the accession 
negotiations;  
 Involve key stakeholders at an early stage of the accession process, in particular, 
parliament and the private sector, i ncluding their participation in the Working Party 
meetings; outreach to media, civil society and academia are also important;  
 Use the website and other outreach tools to provide information in real time on 
developments in accession process.   
ii. Working Party  process  
 Establish a network of "friends of accession" among WTO Members to build political 
support within the WTO, including with the support of the Chairperson of the Working 
Party;  
 Engage with key negotiating partners in formal and informal settings;    
 Once the Working Party process is kicked off, engage with Working Party Members, 
constructively and regularly, and avoid long intervals between meetings i.e. more than 
12 months;  
 If you are confronted  by demands that you view to be excessive and cannot be met 
due to capacity constraint or redline for the domestic economy, the Gen eral Council 
Guidelines on LDC Accessions can be useful;5  
 If confronted with conflicting demands from negotiating partners, encourage them to 
find and present a mutually satisfa ctory solution to you;   
                                                
5 The Guidelines  are available in document WT/L/508 and Add.1.  WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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   Actively engage with your WP Chairperson. The WP Chairperson (i) serves and acts  as 
a "mediator/facilitator" and "bridge -builder" between the acceding government and 
WP Members by applying pressure or defusing tensions where neces sary; (ii) as a 
"friend" and "communicator," can pro -actively advocate and support the acceding 
government in Geneva, including to address political, technical and/or TA issues; and, 
(iii) can assist the acceding government in domestic consensus building, especially 
among key stakeholders including the private sector, by providing credi bility to the 
accession process.      
c. Substance  in accession negotiations  
 Define your major constraints before negotiations and build a strategy to avoid 
confronting them in negotiations;  
 Identify clearly your capacity building needs and negotiate specific flexibilities in the 
implementation of accession commitments based on these needs . 
i. Market access  
 Identify specific tariff lines for sensitive products which require protecti on, ex -outs  
and/or longer transition ;    
 Structure services offers as a tool to attract FDI, and put in place necessary 
regulations before full liberalization/implementation;  
 Review outcomes  of recent LDC accessions;  
 Refer to the benchmarks  on market acc ess in the LDC Guidelines and the LDC 
accession acquis,  which reflect the most recent accession outcomes .  
ii. Rules  
 Study possible implications of accession commitments before agreeing to them;  
 If certain accession commitments cannot be fully implemented imm ediately, consider 
requesting transition  periods for implementation of such commitments after accession, 
with detailed action plans for implementation of difficult commitments with clear 
timelines.     
4  POST -ACCESSION: MAXIMISIN G BENEFITS FROM WTO MEMBERSHI P AND BEST 
PRACTICES  
12. The Round Table welcomed a presentation by the Secretariat on post -accession best 
practices, which was based on a Secretariat background paper.6  The presentation provided seven 
areas around which practices were structured, including: (i) policy framework for domestic 
implementation; (ii) institutional structural adjustment; (iii) legislative framework for domestic 
implementation; (iv) transparency mechanism for notification obligations; (v) technical assistance 
and capacity building; ( vi) outreach; and, (vii) participation in the WTO.  Presentations were made 
on the post -accession experiences of Samoa (2012) and Yemen (2014), which were followed by an 
exchange of comments and experiences by Round Table participants.     
13. On the transitio n from accession negotiations to WTO membership, Round Table 
participants observed the existence of common challenges and practices, also with some 
differences.  Political and economic stability was key for reali zing the benefits of WTO membership.  
The id entified common experiences provided useful pointers for future new Members.  Based on 
the LDC accession experiences, some recommendations emerged and were as follows:  
                                                
6 The Secretariat's note on "Best Practices on Post -Accession" is available in document WT/ACC/27.  WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  a. Immediate pre -accession phase  
 Be mindful of the deadline for the deposit of the instrume nt of acceptance of the Accession 
Protocol with the WTO Director -General. Before the formal approval of the Accession 
Protocol by Members, consult with the WTO Secretariat on setting up a deadline which 
would provide sufficient time to complete the domesti c ratification/approval procedure;  
 Ensure that all necessary implementing legislative and regulatory acts be adopted 
simultaneously with the ratification of the Accession Protocol;  
 Develop and adopt a Post -Accession Implementation Strategy, as part of the  overall 
development strategy, which takes account of specific conditions of each LDC, including 
post-conflict.  Identify clearly your interests and priorities and the list of all 
measures/actions which need to be introduced for the implementation of acces sion 
commitments.  Legal authorization may be issued to ensure effective implementation;  
 Re-focus the mandate of the accession negotiation team to WTO membership.  
If necessary, restructure the existing inter -ministry bodies for coordination of WTO affair s; 
 Identify training needs and, conduct training on WTO membership and capacity building 
activities involving government officials, the private sector, parliamentarians, academia 
and civil society;  
 Set up necessary transparency mechanisms;  
 Prepare initial notifications to the WTO committees which will need to be promptly 
submitted to the WTO Secretariat upon accession.  
b. From Day 1 of membership  
 Implementation of accession commitments is key for realizing the benefits of WTO 
membership.  Implement commitments  in accordance with the Strategy and monitor 
implementation;  
 Transform ministerial and private sector coordination mechanisms used during accession 
negotiations into a policy development and coordination body after WTO membership with 
a new mandate;   
 Continue to implement a WTO -consistent reform plan which shall be an integral part of a 
structural reform agenda for your country;  
 Mobilize and channel resources to targeted areas of trade policy;    
 Prioritize the implementation of specific WTO -consistent me asures which can produce quick 
wins, especially for the private sector whose support would be essential for the 
implementation of the accession commitments;  
 Enhance and sustain public awareness of the benefits from WTO membership and access 
to specific WT O instruments;     
 Realization of the benefits of WTO membership may require investments and assistance in 
hard infrastructure, in addition to software support;  
 Enhance your representation to the WTO in Geneva;  
 Pro-actively participate in the work of the WTO and join relevant groupings to pursue areas 
of specific interest to the country - learn by doing.  WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  5  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  AND CAPACITY BUILDIN G  
14. Development partners (China, IMF and ITC and the WTO) shared with Round Table 
participants their assistance pr ogrammes.   Round Table participants reiterated the importance of 
technical assistance and capacity -building to LDCs during accession and post -accession.  
The following lessons were drawn from the discussions:   
 Technical assistance and capacity building mu st be demand -driven, while TA providers 
could provide flexibilities for implementation;  
 Cooperation, coherence and coordination among TA providers on the ground is key, but 
such coordination must be led and owned by the beneficiary;  
 Technical assistance and other forms of support available to LDCs from development 
partners should be actively used;  
 In general, while technical assistance for accession is sufficiently available, assistance 
should be tailor -made to address identified specific needs;  
 Engageme nt in accession negotiations is the best form of training. Do not hesitate to ask 
questions and request technical assistance from your negotiating partners.  
6  CONCLUSIONS  
15. The Siem Reap China Round Table was the fifth in the process of the China Accession 
Round Table dialogue which had started in 2012.  The successive China Round Tables – first held 
in Beijing, Chin a in May 2012, then in Luang Pra bang, Lao PDR in Octo ber 2013, Dushanbe, 
Tajikistan in May 2015, and Nairobi, Kenya in December 2015 – have contri buted to better 
understanding of the accession process and have injected positive impetus to specific accessions.  
Since the First China Round Table, six more LDCs have joined the WTO family.   
16. The Round Table expressed its appreciation to H.E. Mr. Hun Sen , Prime Minister of 
Cambodia, and the Government of Cambodia for hosting the Round Table, and in particular, for 
the excellent arrangements and generous hospitality.   
17. The Round Table welcomed the fifth extension of the China LDCs' and Accessions 
Programme  ("The China Program me") and expressed appreciation to the Government of China for 
continuing its support for the program me aimed at strengthening LDCs' participation in the WTO 
and assisting acceding governments in joining the Organization.  The annual Ch ina Round Table 
was one of the most visible pillars of the China Program me.  Moreover, special appreciation was 
expressed for the allocation to support the post -accessions of Afghanistan and Liberia, as well as 
the accessions of Comoros and Sudan under the  China Program me, in order to meet specific needs 
of these LDCs.  
18. The Round Table expressed its overall satisfaction to the WTO Secretariat for its 
organization of the China Round Table process.  Round Table participants noted that the China 
Round Table ha d emerged as a unique instrument for technical assistance, capacity -building and 
policy exchange of high value for LDCs in support of the rules -based multilateral trading system.  
19. The Round Table welcomed the progress made on WTO accessions with the new 
membership of Liberia and Afghanistan in 2016.  The Round Table called on the Working Parties on 
the accessions of Comoros and Sudan to accelerate the pace of negotiations towards the 11th 
WTO Ministerial Conference as potential deliverables, while recognisin g that each accession must 
proceed at its own pace.  
20. To continue dialogue on LDCs' accession and promote regional integration, the Round 
Table welcomed Kenya's initiative to host a Regional Dialogue on accessions for the Greater Horn 
of Africa in July 2017 . Participating acceding governments to this Regional Dialogue will include: 
Comoros, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.  WT/ACC/29 • WT/GC/183 • WT/MIN(17)/1 • WT/COMTD/94 • WT/COMTD/LDC/25  
 
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  21. The Round Table commended WTO Director -General Roberto Azevêdo for his leadership of 
the Organization and encouraged him in his efforts with Members and the Government of 
Argentina to work for a successful Eleventh  WTO Ministerial Conference.   
22. Round Table participants requested that this "Siem Reap Statement" be circulated as a 
document of the Committee on Trade and Development, the Sub-Commit tee on  Least Developed 
Countrie s, the General Council and the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference.   
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