WT/ACC/ 45 
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20 March 2024 
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WTO ACCESSIONS  
2023 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE  DIRECTOR -GENERAL * 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
* Unless  otherwise specified, this Annual Report takes account of confirmed accession -related 
developments from 1 January 2023 to 29 February 2024.  This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own 
responsibility and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or 
to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
I.  OVERVIEW OF 2023 AND OUTLOOK FOR 2024  ................................ ........................  3 
- Overview of activities in 2023 (until the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference)  ........................  3 
- Outlook 2024  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  4 
II. DEVELOPMENTS IN 2023 (UNTIL MC13)  ................................ ................................ . 6 
1. ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES: AN OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES  ............................  6 
2. WORKING PARTY CHAIRPERSONS  ................................ ................................ ..........  7 
3. TRANSPARENCY IN THE ACCESSION PROCESS  ................................ ........................  8 
4.  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH  ................................ ...............................  9 
III. STATE OF PLAY IN ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES  ................................ ..........  13 
1. STRATEGIC FOCUS  ................................ ................................ ................................  14 
2. WORK IN PROGRESS  ................................ ................................ .............................  14 
3. REACTIVATION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 15 
4. ACTIVATION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  15 
5. INACTIVE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  16 
IV. POST -ACCESSION  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 18 
V. TRADE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ARTICLE XII MEMBERS  .......................  18 
VI. TRADE FOR PEACE PROGRAMME  ................................ ................................ ............  23 
1. PILLAR 1: POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS  ................................ .... 23 
2. PILLAR 2: PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND OUTREACH  ................................ ......................  23 
3. PILLAR 3: RESEARCH ................................ ................................ .............................  23 
4. PILLAR 4: TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING  ................................ ...................  24 
ANNEX 1 – ACCESSIONS DIVISION WORK INDICATORS (2019 -2023)  ...........................  25 
ANNEX 2 – BASIC ECONOMIC PROFILES OF ACCEDING GOVERNMENTS AND ARTICLE XII 
MEMBERS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  26 
ANNEX 3 – SUMMARY TABLE OF ONGOING ACCESSIONS  ................................ ...............  29 
ANNEX 4 - WTO ACCESSIONS WORKING PARTY CHAIRPERSONS  ................................ ... 30 
ANNEX 5 - ACCESSIONS NEGOTIATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XII  ................................  31 
ANNEX 6 – TIMETABLE OF COMPLETED ACCESSIONS  ................................ .....................  33 
ANNEX 7 – DATA ON TRADE PERFORMANCE  ................................ ................................ ... 37 
ANNEX 8 – ACCESSIONS MANAGEMENT  ................................ ................................ .........  39 
 
 
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  I.  OVERVIEW OF 2023 AND OUTLOOK FOR 2024 
- Overview of activities in 202 3 (until the 13 th WTO Ministerial Conference1)   
1. The accessions of Comoros and Timor -Leste were gavelled at the 13th WTO Ministerial 
Conference (MC13)  in Abu Dhabi. As soon as Comoros and Timor -Leste accept their accession 
Protocols, the WTO Membership will expand to 166. This is a significant moment for the multilateral 
trading system as it marks the first expansion of  the membership since 2016 , the longest gap in 
WTO history . These accessions demonstrate that, despite the challenging global environment, 
governments are still drawn to the rules -based multilateral order. This is also a remarkable 
achievement for two smal l island least-developed countr ies (LDCs) . WTO accession will set Comoros 
and Timor -Leste on a track of economic modernisation and transformation, complementing their 
regional integration efforts within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the 
Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is an encouragement to other governments 
whose accessions are under discussion or to be initiated. In addition, it is a testament to the strong  
engagement of WTO Members  and international partners, and to the enabling role that technical 
assistance can play in promoting trade integration .  
2. In the period under review , interest in the WTO was also manifested in the overall high level 
of accession -related activity. As always, LDC accessions received priority attention. While the 
Working Parties on the Accessions of Comoros and Timor -Leste each held three formal meetings, 
work was carried out on a continuous basis throughout the year until the adoption of the respective 
draft Accession Packages in January  2024. This involved in -depth work on market access, rules and 
legislation, as well as focused political engagement, domestically and with Members.  One key lesson 
drawn from both accessions was the critical importance of strong political leadership . Presid ent Azali 
Assoumani of Comoros and President José Ramos -Horta of Timor -Leste were directly involved, 
especially in the timely finalization of domestic work.  I should also recognize the special role played 
by the Working Party Chairpersons - Ambassador Omar  Zniber of Morocco for Comoros and 
Ambassador Rui Macieira of Portugal  for Timor -Leste, who facilitated and championed the 
deliverables for MC13 . Progress was also registered in other LDC accessions .  Bhutan and Ethiopia  
successfully re -launched their proc esses after years of relative dormancy . Bhutan circulat ed 
documentary inputs prior to its graduation from LDC status in December 2023 , after  a 15-year gap. 
Ethiopia is also in the process of circulati ng inputs  after a shorter break of four years. I am also 
pleased to note that Somalia  cleared its financial arrears to the WTO  in February 2024,  which will 
allow the Working Party to begin the examination of the foreign trade regime in the near future .  
3. From a region al perspective, Central Asia and its immediate neighbourhood have been most 
active in 2023. Uzbekistan held two meetings of the Working Party, accelerating the pace of 
negotiations after restructuring the negotiating team. Azerbaijan resumed its Working Pa rty 
engagement in July after a six-year break. Turkmenistan, which began its accession process just two 
years ago , significantly advanced the preparation of its Memorandum o n the Foreign Trade Regime 
(MFTR), the key document required for launching discussi ons with Members. In Africa, in addition 
to the progress reported on the accessions of Ethiopia and Somalia, Equatorial Guinea - currently 
the only country to conduct its negotiations in Spanish - circulated its MFTR , 15 years after the 
establishment of it s accession Working Party . In the Arab region, Iraq was the most active accession 
dossier. The circulation of all required negotiating inputs was expected to be completed by March 
2024, setting the stage for renewed engagement with Members after 15 years o f inactivity . The Arab 
region, which is one of the most under -represented in the Organization, was also the special focus 
of the 12th China Round Table on WTO Accessions, held on the margins of MC13, at which discussions 
led to the development of a work pr ogramme to support Arab accessions. In the Caribbean, work 
has advanced on Curaçao - the only accession of a separate customs territory among all on-going 
accessions . 
4. The increased level of activity has coincided with the appointment of new Chairpersons wh o 
have injected fresh energy in various accession processes. In the year under review, 11 chairpersons 
were appointed for the Accession Working Parties of Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bhutan, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Curaçao, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Serbia, Somalia and Uzbekistan. Currently, 
of the 14 filled Working Party Chairperson positions, six are occupied by women, which is the highest 
proportion historically. Overall, the Chairpersons reflect the diversity of the WTO membership. 
Following their  appointments, the new Chairpersons have proactively reached out to acceding 
 
1 The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference was held from 26 February to 2 March 2024.  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  governments, including through visits to the capitals, and to Members, aiming to facilitate and 
mobilize necessary support to advance the negotiations.  
5. The year 2023 was also mar ked by a heightened level of activity on the accession -related 
technical assistance front as the Secretariat could engage directly with many accession negotiating 
teams in capitals and in Geneva.2 The Accessions Division conducted 14 missions to eight acc eding 
countries to conduct accession -specific workshops and technical sessions, while maintaining the 
virtual mode of delivery, aided by issue -specific experts in other Divisions, to complement in -person 
activities. One such example was Turkmenistan where the preparation of the MFTR was divided into 
5 clusters over 12 months, with each cluster consisting of a week -long virtual training delivered by 
WTO experts and a week -long mission in Ashgabat to complete specific sections of the Memorandum. 
In addition, a week -long training course on WTO rules relevant to accession negotiations  was 
conducted in Geneva, with the participation of negotiators from 1 1 governments active in the 
accession negotiations. Experience -sharing dialogues were held for the Asia -Pacific  region and the 
Arab region, supported by the 11th and 12th China Round Tables on WTO Accessions held in Lao PDR 
and the UAE, respectively. Overall, over 1000 participants took part in these TA and outreach 
activities.  
6. On the Trade for Peace (T4P) front, the finalization of the accessions of Comoros and Timor -
Leste represents an important achievement for the initiative born out of the vision of the g7+ WTO 
Accessions Group, an association of fragile and conflict -affected states (FCS) to use the accession 
process to promote peace, security and stability. At MC13, the Group met in an expanded format of 
the g7+ at the ministerial level for the first time. These outputs are the fruit of collaboration and 
partnerships built through the Secretariat's T4P Programm e to bring together the trade, peace and 
development communities. At the programme level, work has advanced on the first publication on 
Trade for Peace, the partnerships with the University of St. Gallen and the Geneva Graduate 
Institute's TradeLab Interna tional Economic Law Clinic on research projects (under Pillar 3: 
research), and the second -year delivery of the Interdisciplinary Master's Course on Trade for Peace 
with the Geneva Graduate Institute (under Pillar 4: training and capacity building).  
- Outlook 2024  
7. Following MC13, our work on accessions is focused on two fronts: (i) providing post -accession 
support to Comoros and Timor -Leste; and (ii) advancing the remaining 22 accessions, in line with 
the guidance given by Ministers. Regarding post -accessio n, the Secretariat's support will focus on 
the timely ratification of the respective Protocols of Accession3 and the preparation for effective 
membership, based on the best practices on post -accession emerging from past experiences4. I hope 
that WTO Memb ers will support the implementation of the Post -Accession Implementation Strategies 
developed by Comoros and Timor -Leste.5 From the Secretariat's side, the Accessions Division will 
continue to serve as the focal point for the two LDCs during the post -accession transition phase, 
building on the country -specific knowledge, expertise and networks which the Division has developed 
over the years.   
8. Regarding the work programme for 2024, I expect to see a significant surge of interest and 
activity, in part promp ted by the successful conclusion of the two accessions. Increased interest was 
already evident at MC13 where acceding governments were represented in unprecedented numbers, 
many at the ministerial level. The technical preparatory work undertaken by accedin g governments 
in 2023 will translate into direct engagement with Members at the Working Party level, in many 
cases for the first time or after a long period of inactivity. In terms of technical maturity, the accession 
of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of th e most advanced files, especially following the recent adoption 
of outstanding legislation which had been requested by the Working Party. Taking into account this 
and other developments which have taken place since the Working Party last met in February 20 18, 
 
2 This was also made possible by th e clearance of arrears of observer fees by six acceding governments 
during the period under review.  
3 According to paragraph 7 of the respective Protocols, the timeline for acceptance is set for 
31 August  2024 for Comoros and 30 August 2024 for Timor -Leste , unless the General Council may decide on 
later date.  
4 See "Accession to the WTO: Best Practices on WTO Post -Accession: Note by the Secretariat" in 
document WT/ACC/27 .  
5 Draft strategies were presented during MC13. The final versions of the strategies will be issued in the 
coming weeks.   WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  I would like to encourage Members to assess the feasibility of advancing this long -standing accession 
process towards a possible conclusion in the near future.  
9. In 2024, the Secretariat will continue to accord special attention to the accession of LDCs , 
including graduating ones, especially with regard to the provision of technical assistance and capacity 
building. In particular, I would like to urge Members to support the efforts of Bhutan, Ethiopia and 
Somalia, which are at various stages of the acces sion process.  Bhutan (the last remaining accession 
in the Asia -Pacific region after the completion of Timor -Leste's process) and Ethiopia are about to 
resume activity in their Working Parties, while Somalia is preparing for its first Working Party 
meeting . I should also note that the Secretariat stands ready to assist the three other remaining 
LDC accessions - São Tomé and Príncipe, which is scheduled to graduate from the LDC status in 
December 2024, as well as South Sudan and Sudan, which are both classif ied FCS – when they are 
ready for accession engagement.       
10. From a regional lens, I expect the Central Asian accession dossiers to remain most active in 
the coming period, with Uzbekistan accelerating the negotiations at a faster pace. The accession of 
Azerbaijan is also expected to pick up pace, building on the solid technical groundwork laid over the 
years. Turkmenistan is expected to table its M FTR by mid -year to start its engagement with 
Members. In the Arab region, the Working Party on the Accession of Iraq will formally resume its 
work for the first time since 2008. In Africa  and the Caribbean , the stage is also set for the accessions 
of Equatorial Guinea and Curaçao  to hold their first Working Party meetings. Furthermore, at MC13, 
the Ministers of Lebanon, Libya and Serbia indicated their readiness to re -engage in their respective 
accession processes, once domestic preparation is concluded.   
11. I am pleased to see this renewed level of interest from acceding gove rnments, which are using 
WTO accession as a vehicle for necessary economic reforms to improve the livelihoods of their 
people. As I said at MC13, accessions have always been a barometer of confidence in the WTO and 
the rules -based multilateral trading syst em. What is different at present is that large economies, 
such as Ethiopia, Iraq and Uzbekistan, have returned to the accession negotiating table. This 
presents Members with an opportunity to seek enhanced market access and to explore issues of 
systemic in terest. I would like to encourage Members to engage constructively and dedicate the 
necessary level of resources to match the efforts of acceding governments who link their own growth 
and future prosperity to the WTO's core values of openness, transparency , good governance, and 
the rule of law. I  hope that we will not need to wait quite as long before we welcome the next new 
member of the WTO family. For my part, I shall do the best I can with the budget constraint to direct 
requisite resources to provide s upport to accessions. More concretely, the Secretariat will step up its 
coordination efforts with Members and partner institutions within the framework of the Coordination 
Group of Accession -related Technical Assistance, to respond to the greater and const antly evolving 
needs of acceding governments for deeper engagement in the accession negotiations.  
12. On the Trade for Peace front, the focus will be the finalization of the first publication in this 
field, provisionally entitled "Trade for Peace: An Integrat ed Perspective on the Role of Trade to 
Support Peace and Economic Development". The new publication plans to showcase the linkages 
between trade and peace by revisiting economic evidence and case studies, and more specifically, 
highlight the socio -politica l, governance and macro -economic determinants that may support trade 
and trade policy in making a positive contribution to peace. The publication of the book is planned 
as part of a high -level Trade for Peace Conference to be organised in the last quarter of the year.  
13. In conclusion, I look forward to working closely with acceding governments, Members, 
Working Party Chairpersons and development partners to advance WTO accessions in 2024 .  
 
 
 
Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala  
WTO Director -General  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  II. DEVELOPMENTS  IN 2023  (UNTIL MC13 ) 
1. ACCESSION WORKING PARTIES: AN OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES   
14. At the start of  2023,  24 governments were in the process of WTO accession.6 The number 
decreased  to 22, with the completion of the mandate of the Working Parties on the A ccessions of 
Comoros and Timor -Leste in January 2024, followed by the decisions on the two accessions at MC13 
on 26 February 20247.     
15. In the period  under review, nine formal Working Party meetings were held  for four accessions . 
These were on the accessi ons of Azerbaijan (15th meeting on 6 July  2023), Comoros ( 8th meeting on 
19 January  2023,  9th meeting  on 5 October  2023 and 10th meeting on 9 January 2024 ), Timor -Leste 
(5th meeting on 20 April  2023,  6th meeting on 11 October  2023 and 7th meeting on 11  January 2024 ), 
and Uzbekistan ( 6th meeting on 14 March  2023 and 7th meeting  on 16 November  2023). In addition, 
two Technical Verification meetings  on the Consolidated Draft Schedules on Goods and Services were 
held for the accession s of Comoros  (on 4 May  2023) and Timor -Leste  (on 17 November  2023). 
16. Progress in the accession Working Parties was documented as follows:  
• The Factual Summary of Points Raised was revised by the Secretariat for the Working Party 
on the Accession of Uzbekistan .8 
• The draft Report s of the Working Party w ere revised by the Secretariat for the accession s 
of Azerbaijan9, Bhutan10, Comoros (two revisions)11 and Timor -Leste (three revisions)12.  
• Two draft Accession Packages were prepared by the Secretariat  for Comoros13 and 
Timor -Leste14. Following the adoption of the Accession Packages, ad referendum,  by the 
Working Parties at their final meetings, they were circulated to all Members.15  
• Progress reports to the General Council were issued by the respective Chairpersons for the 
accessions of Comoros16 and Timor -Leste17.   
Annex 3 contains the status of the latest documents for all on -going accessions.   
 
17. In total, 135 accession documents were issued under document symbols WT/ACC , 
WT/ACC/SPEC  and JOB/ACC  series, for eight Working Parties ( Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Comoros, 
Curaçao, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Timor -Leste  and Uzbekistan) .  
 
6 See the basic economic profiles of acceding governments in Annex 2 -1.  
7 WT/MIN(24)/31  and WT/MIN(24)/32 .  
8 JOB/ACC/UZB/3/Rev.2 . 
9 WT/ACC/SPEC/AZE/4/Rev.5 . 
10 WT/ACC/SPEC/BT N/4/Rev.1 . 
11 WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/5/Rev.5  and WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/5/Rev.6  
12 WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/5/Rev.1 , WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/5/Rev.2  and WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/5/ Rev.3  
13 The draft Accession Package contained in (i) the Draft Report of the Working Party 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/5/Rev.6 ); (ii) the Draft Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/CO M/6/Rev.2 ); and (iii) the Draft Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/COM/7/Rev.1 ). 
14 The draft Accession Package contained in (i) the Draft Report of the Working Party 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/5/ Rev.3 ); (ii) the Draft Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/6/Rev.1 ); and (iii) the Draft Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services 
(WT/ACC/SPEC/TLS/7/Rev.1 ). 
15 WT/ACC/COM/ 51, WT/ACC/COM/51/Add.1  and Add.2  for Comoros ; and, WT/ACC/TLS/34 , 
WT/ACC/TLS/34/Add.1  and Add.2  for Timor -Leste.  
16 JOB/ACC/COM/15 . 
17 JOB/ACC/TLS/10 . WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  2. WORKING PARTY CHAIRPERSONS   
18. Out of the 24 Accession Working Parties  (including on the Accessions of Comoros  and Timor -
Leste  until January 2024 ), 16 had Chairpersons  (see Annex  4). Of these, all were Geneva -based and 
six were women.18 
19. New Chairpersons were appointed by the General Council to 11  Accession Working Parties  in 
2023: 
• Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy (Türkiye) for the Working Party on the Accession of 
Azerbaijan  on 7 March ; 
• Ambassador Anita Pi pan (Slovenia) for the Working Party on the Accession of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina  on 7 March ;  
• Ambassador Matthew Wilson (Barbados) for the Working Party on  the Accession of Curaçao  
on 7 March ;  
• Ambassador Dr. José R. Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic) for the Working Party on the 
Accession of Equatorial Guinea  on 7 March ;  
• Ms. Rebecca Fisher Lamb (United Kingdom) for the Working Party on the Accession of 
Ethiopia  on 7 March ;  
• Ambassador Margit Szűcs (Hungary) for the Working Party on the Accession of Serbia  on 
7 March ;  
• Ambassador Seong deok Yun (Republic of Korea) for the Working Party on the Accession 
of Uzbekistan  on 7 March;   
• Ambassador D ésirée Schweitzer (Austria) for the Working Party on the Accession of Bhutan 
on 9 May;  
• Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) for the Working Party on 
the Accession of Iraq  on 29 June ;  
• Ambassador Nadia Theodore (Canada) for the Work ing Party on the Accession of The 
Bahamas  on 15 December; and,  
• Ambassador Nina Tornberg  (Sweden) for the Working Party on the Accession of Somalia  
on 15 December .  
20. The position of Chairperson  of the Working Party on the Accession of Algeria became vacant 
following the departure of Ambassador Jose Luis Cancela (Uruguay). Consultations are ongoing with 
Members on the  appointment of a new Chairperson . 
21. A briefing session was organised by the Secre tariat in April 2023 for the seven Working Party 
Chairpersons  appointed in March. Individual b riefings were organised for other Chairpersons 
following their appointments . 
22. During the period under review , Working Party Chairpersons remained actively engaged and 
played a significant role in advancing the accession processes. They consulted with Members and 
acceding governments in various formats and configurations, and participated in outreach activities 
to improve technical and policy understanding on WTO acc essions.  
• The Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Azerbaijan, Ambassador 
Alparslan Acarsoy (Türkiye), visited Baku on 27 -28 April  2023, accompanied by the 
 
18 More information on the selection process of accession Working Party Chairpersons can be found in 
Section 2.4 "Chairperson of Accession Working Party" of document WT/ACC/33/Rev.1 . WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  Secretariat.19 During the visit, the Chair met with high -ranking officials in the government, 
including the: (i) Deputy Prime Minister, (ii) Minister of Economy, (iii) State Customs 
Committee Head, (iv) Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection, (v) Deputy 
Governo r of the Central Bank, and (vi) Deputy Chair of the Food Safety Agency.  
• The Chairperson of the Working Par ty on the Accession of Iraq, Ambassador Saqer  
Abdullah  AlMoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), visited Baghdad on 15 -16 January 2024 .20 
During the visit,  the Chair met with high -ranking officials in the government, including 
the: (i)  President of the Republic, (ii) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, 
(iii) Minister of Trade and Chair of Iraq 's National Committee on WTO Accession , (iv) Head 
of the Parliamentary Economic Industry and Trade Committee, and (v) Deputy Minister of 
Foreign Affairs. The Chair also attended  the 36th meeting of the Iraq 's National Committee 
on WTO Accession, chaired by the Minister of Trade.  
3. TRANSPARENCY IN THE ACCESSI ON PROCESS  
23. Ensuring transparency in the accession process remains a key priority for the Secretariat and 
Members. Various transparency measures continued to be implemented during the period under 
review . 
i. Briefing on WTO Accessions to Members  
24. While the Secretariat did not hold meetings of the Informal Group on Accessions (IGA) in 
2023, it organised a briefing session on WTO Accessions for Members on 27 September. The briefing 
focused on: (i) the concluding phase of the WTO accession process; and (ii)  the state of play in 
ongoing accession negotiations.  
ii. WTO Accessions Newsletter , press release and social media  
25. The Newsletter ensures transparency on accession matters, including recent developments, 
the calendar of activities, and issues of interests to the accession community. It aims to enhance 
communication with acceding governments, Chairpersons, Members, part ners and the broader trade 
policy community. The Secretariat issued three WTO Accessions Newsletters covering developments 
in the period under review, in June and September 2023 and in January 2024.   
26. Accession activities are regularly published through WTO  press release s and accession -
dedicated social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter ) and LinkedIn. During the period 
under review, 23 press releases were issued and 256 tweets were issued to keep the public informed 
on accession -related activitie s on a regular basis.  
iii. Accessions Transparency Toolbox  
- WTO Accessions Intelligence Portal (AIP)  
27. The Accessions Intelligence Portal ( https://www.wto.org/accessions ) aims at enhancing 
transparency on WTO accession negotiations. The AIP provides access to documentation and data 
on the WTO  accession processes, including completed and ongoing accessions. The Portal is regularly 
updated based on documentation submitted by acced ing governments and produced by the 
Secretariat with respect to ongoing accessions.21 A new, more user -friendly layout of the AIP is under 
development  and is scheduled to be launched in 2024.  
- Accession Commitments Database (ACDB)  
28. The Accession Commitmen ts Database ( http://acdb.wto.org ) provides access to all accession -
specific  commitments and related information contained in Accession Working Party Reports and 
Protocols of the 36  Article  XII Members. The accession commitments of Comoros and Timor -Leste 
 
19 The report on the Chair's visit was circulated in document JOB/ACC/AZE/4 . Also see  WTO | 2023 
News items - Chair discusses resumption of Azerbaijan 's Working Party activity during visit to Baku  
20 The report on the Chair's visit was circulated in document JOB/ACC/IRQ/3 . Also see "Working Party 
Chair visits Baghdad to hold high -level consultations on Iraq 's accession ". 
21 While the AIP is open to the public, some parts of the website, including access to documents of ongoing 
accession negotiations, remain password -protected and are only accessible to Members and acceding 
governments.  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  will be added to the Database once both become formal Members. The ACDB is a vailable to the 
general public in the three WTO official languages.  
- Register of Bilateral Market Access Agreements  
29. The Register of Bilateral Market Access Agreements contains basic information regarding 
signed bilateral market access agreements on goods  and services that have been deposited with the 
Secretariat. The Register lists the type of the agreement (goods; services; or both), and the dates 
of signature and deposit. The content of bilateral market access agreements remains confidential to 
the sign atories and the Secretariat, which acts as the depository of the Agreements. Reports 
generated by the Register are available to WTO  Members via a password -protected access: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/xacc_e/register_e.htm . 
4.  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH22 
i. Technical assistance  
30. Technical assistance (TA) is critical to support the progress of accession negotiations, in  
particular for LDCs. The importance of TA has been emphasized, including at MC12 and MC13. 
In addition, o ne of the four key results of the Secretariat's Biennial Technical Assistance and Training 
Plan23 (TA Plan) focuses on the participation of acceding g overnments in accession negotiations and 
prioritizes the needs of LDCs.  
31. The Secretariat works closely with Members and development partners to support acceding  
governments , placing special importance on coordination . In July 2022, it launched the Coordination 
Group on Accessions -related Technical Assistance , providing a forum for development partners and 
acceding governments to exchange information on WTO accession -specific needs and assistance on 
a periodic basis.  On 20 April 2023, the Group held its meeting  to discuss the support needed for 
Comoros and Timor -Leste to complete their accession negotiations, and on their post -accession 
technical assistance needs.24  
32. Ahead of the conclusion of the accessions of Comoros and Timor -Leste, the Secretariat  
assisted both governments in the preparation for their respective WTO membership .  including in 
the development of their comprehensive post -accession implementation strategies.  (See Section IV: 
Post-Accession)   
33. For the period under review , which followed several years of travel limitations due to the 
COVID -19 pandemic, a significant number of TA activities were delivered in person, complemented 
by hybrid and virtual delivery. The activities included, inter alia , (i) tailored national trainin g sessions 
and seminars; (ii) missions; and (iii) roundtables/dialogues. In total, approximately 
1000 participants took part in these activities.  
- National activities  
34. The Accessions Division, in collaboration with other Secretariat Divisions and/or other partner 
institutions, delivered technical assistance and advice to the following acceding governments: 
Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Comoros,  Equatorial Guinea, Timor -Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan:  
i. Azerbaijan : During the visit of the Chairperson of the Working Party, Ambassador Alparslan  
Acarsoy  (Türkiye ), to Baku on 26 -27 April , the Secretariat held consultations with experts 
from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss outstanding issues 
identified in the Working Party Report. Additionally, at the request of the Government, the 
Secretariat organised technical sessions in Geneva for visiting experts from Baku, covering 
fisheries subsidies, investment facilitation, services domestic regulation, S tate Trading 
Enterprises (STE s) and subsidies,  on 18 -21 December.  
 
22 This section reflects TA activities delivere d between 1 January  2023 and 29 February 2024 .  
23 The plan s for 2022 -23 and 2024 -25 are contained in document s WT/COMTD/W/260/Rev.1  and 
WT/COMTD/W/273 , respectively . 
24 WTO | 2023 News items - Technical Assistance Coordination Group reviews Comoros, Timor -Leste 
post-accession needs  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  ii. Bhutan : At the request of the Government, the Secretariat provided virtual training  sessions 
on: (i) trade in services and market access negotiations on services (31 May, 1, 5, 8, 9, 13 
and 23 June), (ii) market access negoti ations on goods (2 June), and (iii) agriculture 
(14 June). These sessions were followed by a Secretariat's mission to Thimphu on 10 -14 July 
to hold meetings with the Government in view of the relaunch of the accession process. A 
package of updated negotiat ing inputs required for the resumption of the Working Party 
process was also finalised.  An additional mission took place on 24-28 July to help the 
prepar ation of an updated offer on trade in services.  
iii. Comoros : Assistance on the preparation of accession doc umentation was provided 
throughout the year. Additionally, the Secretariat undertook a technical assistance mission 
to Moroni on 20 -23 November to hold meetings with the Government in view of the 
finalization of the accession process by MC13.  Comoros' pos t-accession technical assistance 
needs were first presented and discussed in the meeting of the Coordination -Group on 
Accession -related Technical Assistance on 20 April. Comoros presented its Post -Accession 
Implementation Strategy to Members and developmen t partners at a Round Table on Post -
Accession on 25 February 2024, on the margins of MC13. 25   
iv. Equatorial Guinea : At the request of the Government, the Secretariat undertook a mission 
to Malabo on 15 -17 August, to (i) introduce participants to the WTO, WTO agreements, and 
the accession process, including the documentary requirements; (ii) assist in the preparation 
of technical documents required to hold the first meeting of the WP; and (iii) discuss the 
Accession Roadmap, which outlined the steps le ading up to the first WP meeting.  
v. Timor -Leste : Assistance on the preparation of the accession documentation was provided 
throughout the year. Additionally, the Secretariat undertook a technical assistance mission 
to Dili on 4 -10 September  to hold meetings with the new Government in view of the 
finalization of the accession process by MC13 . Timor -Leste' post -accession technical 
assistance needs were first presented and discussed in the meeting of the Coordination -
Group on Accession -related Technical Assistan ce on 20 April. A dedicated Round Table on 
Post-Accession was held on 11 January 2024. The Secretariat undertook a mission to Dili on 
22-25 January 2024 to assist in the preparation of Timor -Leste's Post -Accession 
Implementation Strategy. The Strategy was later presented to Members and development 
partners at a Round Table on Post -Accession on 25 February 2024, on the margins of MC13 .26  
vi. Turkmenistan:  At the request of the Government, the Secretariat undertook four missions 
to Ashgabat, to deliver technical  assistance on the WTO accession process (29 -31 May) and 
the MFTR (three clusters of trainings on 3 -14 July, 23 -27 October27 and 18 -22 December)  
Virtual trainings with WTO experts on the MFTR were held on 2 -6 October 2023,  
20-24 November  2023, and 29 Janua ry to 2 February 2024,  in preparation for the second , 
third and fourth  cluster s of in-person trainings, respectively. Some sessions were conducted 
in partnership with the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) of the Asian 
Development Bank (ADB ). Technical assistance round tables with development partners were 
also organized during the missions in May and October.  
vii. Uzbekistan:  At the request of the Government, the Secretariat undertook three missions to 
Tashkent, to deliver technical assistance on (i) agriculture (5 -8 September) , (ii) trade in 
services (19 -21 September) , and (iii) accession documentation (14 -20 October). 
The Secretariat organised technical sessions in Geneva for visiting experts from Tashkent, 
covering trade remedies, STEs, subsi dies, trade in services, SPS and TBT issues  on 
14-17 November.  
 
25 WTO | 2024 News items - Comoros round table discusses technical assistance needs to maximize 
WTO membership benefits  
26 WTO | 2024 News items - Round table on Timor -Leste’s post -accession strategy to maximize WTO 
membership benefits  
27 WTO | 20 23 News items - Turkmenistan advances work aimed at starting WTO accession negotiations 
in 2024  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  - Global activities  
35. The 11th China Round Table on WTO Accessions took place took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 
on 1-3 February, entitled: "WTO Accessions and Trade Integration: Stories from the Asia -Pacific" . 
Held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Lao PDR's WTO accession, the event discussed: 
(i) the contributions of the Asia -Pacific to the rules-based multilateral trading system ; (ii) the state 
of play in the multilateral and pluril ateral discussions in the WTO and the latest developments in 
preparation for MC13; (iii) Lao PDR's 10 years of WTO membership , based on the study "Lao PDR: 
a Retrospective on 10 Years of WTO Membership"28; and (iv) the latest best practices in LDC 
accessio ns and post -accession.29 The Round Table was  attended by over 100 participants, including 
representatives of LDC acceding governments, Members, WP Chairpersons, international 
organizations and developments partners, as well as a variety of stakeholders from the host 
government.  
36. The 12th China Round Table on WTO Accessions took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 
24-25 February 2024, on the margins of MC13.30 As the first Round Table in the Arab region,  which  
is one of the most under -represented in the WTO , the event was organized around the theme  "Arab 
Perspectives on WTO Accessions and the Multilateral Trading System " and discussed: (i) the draft 
study on "Best Practices in WTO Accessions for Arab Countries : Lessons from Past and On -going 
Accession s in the Region" , prepared in collaboration with the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), the Islamic 
Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB ) 31; (ii) translating 
next steps in the accession process  into policy action and technical assistance /capacity buildi ng 
support , with development partners; (iii) the pre-launch of the firs t Trade for Peace publication , 
provisionally entitled  "Trade for Peace: An Integrated Perspective on the Role of Trade to Support 
Peace and Economic Development". The High -Level session  on 25 February with the participation o f 
the WTO Director -General and 12 Ministers .  
37. A week -long course on WTO rules in accession ne gotiations took place on 4 -8 December 2023 
in the WTO in Geneva.32 A total of 29 government officials from 11 governments33 which are actively 
engaged in their respective accession negotiations took part in this training activity on WTO 
accession procedures and rules. Sessions with WTO experts covered the accession proce ss and the 
WTO legal disciplines at stake in accession negotiations in areas such as : framework s for making 
and enforcing policies, transparency, trading rights, import and export regulations (tariff and non -
tariff barriers), customs procedures, trade reme dies, subsidies, free zones, trade -related investment 
measures, state -trading enterprises, TBT, SPS and TRIPS . A roundtable discussion with former 
accession negotiators also presented an opportunity for experience - and knowledge -sharing.  
ii. Outreach  
- Informal Group of Acceding Governments (IGAG)  
38. The I nformal Group of Acceding Governments (I GAG), comprising 24 acceding governments 
and coordinated by Uzbekistan, held four meetings during the period under review ,34 including  its 
first Ministerial meeting  on the margins of MC13.35 In 2023, the Group discussed, among other 
topics: (i) the 2022 DG Annual Report on WTO Accessions, including an overview of 2022 and the 
outlook for 2023, and (ii) accessions state of play and upcoming activities, including MC13. At the 
first IGAG Ministerial meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan,  on 
 
28 The study is available here: Lao People's Democratic Republic: A Retrospective on 10 Years of WTO 
Membership . 
29 WTO | 2023 News items - 11th China Round Table looks at integration of Asia -Pacific in world trade, 
LDC accessions  
30 See "China Round Table looks at Arab perspectives on WTO accession "" 
31 The presentation of the study was initially planned during t he 3rd Regional Dialogue on WTO 
Accessions for the Arab Region  scheduled from  31 October -2 November 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, but the joint 
activity was postponed . 
32 WTO | 2023 News items - Training course on WTO rules in accession negotiations opens in Geneva  
33 Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Curaça o, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Serbia, 
Timor -Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan .  
34 The IGAG met on 2 March 2023 (hybrid), 18 December 2023 (hybrid), 7 February 2024 (hybrid) and 
26 February 2024  (in-person in Abu Dhabi, at the level of Ministers and Heads of Delegation).  
35 WTO 2024 | News items – Informal Group of Acceding Governments holds first ministerial meeting at 
MC13 WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  26 February  2024 in Abu Dhabi, acceding governments adopted the first IGAG Ministerial 
statement.36 
- g7+ WTO Accessions Group (g7+ Group)  
39. The g7+ WTO Accessions Grou p held four meetings ,37 including a meeting at  the ministerial 
level held on the margins of MC13.38 The Group focused on preparing for the Ministerial meeting, 
where the expansion of membership to accommodate all members of the g7+ was announced.39 
Additionally, discussions continued on developing a Work Programme on Trade for Peace, based on 
the Third Ministerial Declaration.40 Preparation for consultations with Members on this Programme 
in the WTO Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) was also a priority, aiming for a decision 
on the Group's proposal at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) . More information on the 
Trade for Peace Programme can be found in Section V I.  
iii.  China's LDCs and Accessions Programme (The China Programme)  
 
40. The " China's  LDCs and Accessions Programme" (the China  Programme) was extended  on 
23 October  2023. A signing  ceremony for the renewal of the China -WTO Memorandum of 
Understanding on "China's LDCs and Accessions Programme" took place on the margins of the 12th 
China Round Table on 25 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.41. The China Programme , initiated in 
July 2011 under the WTO 's Aid for Trade initiative , aims at strengthening LDCs' participation in the 
WTO and assisting acceding  governments in joining the WTO . Out of the six pillars, the Accessions 
Division is responsible for the implementation of Pillar I " WTO Accessions  Internship Programme"; 
and Pillar II  "Annual China Round Tables on WTO Accessions".42  
41. Under the WTO Accessions  Internship Programme (Pillar I),  seven interns worked in the 
Accessions Division in the year under review.43 Of the 4 8 interns that have participated in the 
Programme since its launch in 2011, 1 9 have been from LDCs and 2 9 from non -LDCs.44 18 men and 
30 women have participated in the Programme. The breakdown of interns per region is presented in 
Figure 1.  
 
36 See WTO document  WT/MIN(24)/22/Rev.1 . 
37 Held on 12, 16 and 21 February 2024 ; as well as 26 February 2024  (Minister -level).   
38 "g7+ Group steps up efforts to promote Trade for Peace agenda in the WTO " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/acc_12mar24_e.htm  
39 Membership of the Group included nine members associated with WTO accessions: thre e WTO Article 
XII Members: Afghanistan, Liberia and Yemen, and six WTO acceding governments: Comoros, Sao Tomé and 
Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Timor -Leste. At the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, 
the Group's membership was expand ed to accommodate all members of the g7+ association, including 12 
original WTO Members: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, Guinea, Guinea -Bissau, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands  and Togo. The 
expanded Group was accordingly renamed as the g7+ Group.  
40 See WTO document WT/MIN(24)/25 . 
41 "China commits USD 490,000 to support WTO accessions and least -developed countries " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/tech_23oct23_e.htm  
42 More background and information on the six pillars can be found here: WTO | WTO accessions - China's 
LDCs and Accessions Programme . 
43 The 2023 China WTO Accessions Internship Programme participants were from Afghanistan, Burkina 
Faso, Grenada, Leban ese Republic  (2), Lao PDR, Malawi, Oman, and Sudan .  
44 An overview of former and current participants, including alumni stories, can be found here: WTO | 
WTO accessions - The China WTO accession internship programme .  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  Figure 1: China Programme interns by region (2011 -2023)  
 
 
iv.  Partnership s  
42. The Secretariat works closely with international partners to assist the e fforts of acceeding 
Governments.  These partners include  the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), ASEAN Secretariat, Central 
Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International 
Monetary Fund (IMF), International Trade Centre  (ITC), Islamic Centre for Development of Trade 
(ICDT) , Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Islamic UN Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), 
UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and World Bank.  In the period under review, these 
partners took part in various national, regional or global activities.   
III. State of play in Accession Working Parties  
43. Table 1 provides an overview of 24 accessions , including Comoros and Timor -Leste which will 
officially become WTO Members after the deposit of the instruments of acceptance.  The table is 
organized  by the status of accession negotiations. A range of challenging factors remained in play in 
accession negotiations. Domestic political dynamics, election cycles, reorganized government 
priorities, regional integration efforts, geopolitics and/or fragil ity and conflict had an impact on 
progress in many accessions. This section provides the state of play on the ongoing accessions,  as 
of February 2024 . More details of the state of play are provided and regularly updated in the 
WTO accession website  and Accessions Newsletter.  
Table 1 : Current accessions by general status  
General Status  Accession  
1. Strategic focus (2)  Comoros*, Timor -Leste*  
2. Work in progress ( 2) Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan  
3. Reactivation ( 4) Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina , Ethiopia*, Iraq  
4. Activation ( 4) Curaçao, Equatorial Guinea, Somalia*, Turkmenistan  
5. Inactive (1 2) Algeria, Andorra, The Bahamas, Belarus, Iran, Lebanese Republic, Libya, 
Sao Tomé and Principe*, Serbia, South Sudan*, Sudan*, Syrian Arab 
Republic  
* Least -Developed Countries (LDCs)  
"Strategic focus" indicates accessions which could be concluded in 2023 -2024, based on the level of technical 
advancement of the dossiers.  
WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  "Work in progress" indicates technical advancement and regular exchange of information with WTO Members and 
the Secretariat.  
"Reactivation" indicates exchange of information with the Secretariat and/or WTO Members with the objective of 
early resumption of activities at the level of the Working Party after a period of dormancy/inactivity.  
"Activation" indicates exc hange of information with the Secretariat with the objective to begin the Working Party 
process.  
"Inactive" indicates no activities at the level of the Working Party for at least three years . 
1. STRATEGIC FOCUS  
44. Comoros : Comoros applied for WTO accession in March 2007. The Working Party was 
established in October 2007 and held its first meeting in December 201 6. The eighth45 and ninth46 
Working Party meetings were held respectively on 19 January and 5 October 2023 . The draft Goods 
and Services Schedules were verified by signatories at a technical verification meeting on 
4 May 2023. At its final (tenth) meeting47 on 9 January 2024, the Working Party adopted, ad 
referendum , the draft accession package  and concluded its mandate by forward ing it for action by 
Ministers at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference  (MC13 ). Following the formal decision by Ministers,  
Comoros signed its Protocol of Accession to the WTO on 26 February 2024.48 The signed Protocol is 
subject to ratification and is open for acceptance by Comoros until 31 August 202 4.  
45. Timor -Leste : Timor -Leste applied for WTO accession in November 2016.  The Working Party 
was established in December 2016 and held its first meeting in October 2020. The fifth49 and sixth50 
meetings of the Working Party took place on 20 April and 11 October 2023 , respectively . The draft 
Goods and Services Schedules were verified by signatories at a technical verification meeting on 
17 November  2023. At its final (seventh) meeting51 on 11 Jan uary 2024, the Working Party adopted, 
ad referendum , the draft a ccession package and concluded its mandate by forward ing it for action 
by Ministers at MC13 . Following the formal decision by Ministers, Timor -Leste signed its Protocol of 
Accession  to the WTO  on 26 February 2024 .52 The sig ned Protocol is subject to ratification and its 
open for acceptance by Timor -Leste until 30 August 2024 .   
2. WORK IN PROGRESS  
46. Azerbaijan : Azerbaijan applied for WTO accession in June 1997.  The Working Party was 
established in July 1997 and held its first meetin g in June 2002. The 15th meeting53 of the Working 
Party was held on 6  July 2023 after a six -year hiatus.  Multilateral negotiations are underway on the 
basis of the fifth revision of the Working Party Report. Bilateral negotiations are ongoing with several 
interested Members. To  date, four bilateral market access agreements have been signed and 
deposited with the Secretariat. The 16th Working Party meeting will be convened following the 
submission of required negotiating inputs.  
47. Uzbekistan : Uzbekistan applied for WTO accession in December 1994. The Working Party was 
established in December 1994 and held its first meeting in  July 2002. After years of dormancy, the 
Working Party resumed its work at the fourth meeting in July 2020. On 14 March and 
 
45 "Members commend Comoros' efforts to clear final hurdles on path to WTO accession by MC13"  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_19jan23_e.htm  
46 "Members welcome progress by Comoros towards concluding accession negotiations ahead of MC13" 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_05oct23_e.ht m 
47 "Comoros WTO accession package ready for formal adoption at MC13 " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/acc_09jan24_e.htm  
48 "Ministers approve WTO membership of Comoros and Timor -Leste at MC13 " 
https://ww w.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/acc_26feb24_e.htm   
49 "Timor -Leste drives WTO membership bid into final stages " 
https://www.wto.org/english/new s_e/news23_e/acc_20apr23_e.htm  
50 "Timor -Leste moves within a few steps of concluding WTO accession negotiations " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_11oct23_e.htm   
51 "Members endorse Timor -Leste 's WTO accession package, ready for formal adoption in Abu Dhabi " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/acc_11jan24_e.htm  
52 "Ministers approve WTO membership of Comoros and Timor -Leste at MC13 " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news24_e/acc_26feb24_e.htm  
53 "Working Party injects fresh momentum into Azerbaijan 's WTO accession process"  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_06jul23_e.htm  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  16 November  2023, the Working Party held its sixth54 and seventh55 meetings  respectively . 
Multilateral negotiations are underway on the b asis of the second  revision of the Factual Summary 
of Points Raised. To date, eight bilateral market access agreements  were signed, and bilateral 
negotiations are ongoing with several interested Members. The eighth Working Party meeting will be 
convened following the submission of required negotiating inputs.  
3. REACTIVATION  
48. Bhutan : Bhutan applied for WTO accession in September 1999. The Working Party was 
established in October 1999 and held its first meeting in November 2004. The fourth meeting of the 
Working Party was held in January 2008. In April 2023, the government resumed the a ccession 
process. The first revision of the draft Working Party Report was circulated  in August 2023. Revised  
market access offers on goods and services were circulated in August and November 2023, 
respectively.  Bilateral negotiations were stalled since 20 08, but Bhutan expressed readiness to 
restart engagement with Members. On 13 December 2023, Bhutan officially graduated from LDC 
status.56 The fifth Working Party meeting will be convened in 2024 . 
49. Bosnia and Herzegovina : Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for WTO accession in May 1999. 
The Working Party was established in July 1999 and held its first meeting in November 2003. 
The 13th meeting of  the Working Party was held on 7 February 2018. To date, 16 bilateral market 
access agreements have been signed and deposited with the Secretariat, while bilateral negotiation 
is outstanding with one Member. Multilateral negotiations are underway on the ba sis of the eighth 
revision of the draft Working Party Report. The 14th Working Party meeting will be convened after 
the conclusion of the remaining bilateral market access negotiation.  
50. Ethiopia : Ethiopia applied for WTO accession in January 2003. The Working Party was 
established in February 2003 and held its first meeting in May 2008. At its fourth meeting held in 
January 2020, the Working Party agreed to transform the Factual Summary of Points Raised into an 
Elements of the draft Working Party Re port. Bilateral negotiations are ongoing with several interested 
Members. Ethiopia is in the process of submitting the required negotiating inputs to hold  the fifth 
Working Party meeting  in 2024 . Ethiopia is subject to Category I administrative measures.  
51. Iraq: Iraq applied for WTO accession in September 2004. The Working Party was established 
in December 2004 and held its first meeting in  May 2007. The second meeting of the Working Party 
was held in April 2008 and an informal meeting of the Working Party was held in November 2017. 
In preparation for the third meeting of the Working Party, Iraq circulated an updated M emorandum 
on the Foreign Trade Regime  and seven other documents in June -July 2022 , and its initial market 
access offers on goods and services  in March 2024 . The third Working Party meeting will be convened 
in 2024.   
4. ACTIVATION  
52. Curaçao : Curaçao applied for WTO accession in October 2019. The Working Party was 
established in March 2020. The Memorandum on the Foreign T rade Regime was circulated in 
September 2021, followed by Replies to Questions on the Memorandum in September 2023. The  first 
meeting of the Working Party will be convened in 2024.  
53. Equatorial Guinea : Equatorial Guinea applied for WTO accession in March 2007. The Working 
Party was established in February 2008. The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime was 
circulated in December 2022. The first meeting of the Working Party will be convened  subject to the 
submission of replies to questions raised by Members on the Memorandum, together with an update 
of the Memora ndum. Equatorial Guinea is subject to Category I administrative measures.  
54. Somalia : Somalia applied for WTO accession in November 2016. The Working Party was 
established in December 2016. In May 2020, the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime was 
 
54 "Uzbekistan brings fresh impetus to WTO membership negotiations"  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_14mar23_e.htm  
55 "Uzbekistan injects renewed momentum into WTO accession process"  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_16nov23_e.htm  
56 "WTO members congratulate Bhutan on graduating from LDC status " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/ldevc_13dec23_e.htm  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  circulated. The first meeting of the Working Party will be convened subject to the submission of 
replies to questions raised by Members on the M emorandum , as well as its Legislative Action Plan .  
55. Turkmenistan : Turkmenistan applied for WTO accession in November 2021. The Workin g Party 
was established in February 2022. No Working Party meeting has been held to date. 
The Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime is currently under preparation . 
5. INACTIVE  
56. Algeria : Algeria applied for WTO accession in June 1987. The Working Party was established 
in June 1987 and held its first meeting in April 1998. The 12th meeting of the Working Party was 
held in March  2014. To date,  six bilateral market access agreements have been signed and deposited 
with the Secretariat while several bilateral negotiations remain outstanding. The draft Working Party 
Report is in its third revision that was circulated in February  2014. The 13th meet ing of the Working 
Party will be convened subject to the submission of required negotiating inputs.  
57. Andorra : Andorra applied for WTO acc ession in July 1997. The Working Party was established 
in October 1997. The Working Party held its first and only meeting in October 1999. This accession 
process is inactive, and there are no indications of any intention to re -start the process.   
58. The Bahamas : The Bahamas applied for WTO accession in May 2001. The Working Party was 
established in July 2001 and held its first meeting in  September 2010. The fourth meeting of the 
Working Party was held in April 2019. To date, one bilateral market access agreement has been 
concluded in principle, while bilateral negotiations are ongoing with several interested Members. 
On the multilateral l evel, the Working Party agreed to transform the Factual Summary of Points 
Raised into an Elements of a draft Working Party Report. The fifth meeting will be convened subject 
to the submission of required negotiating inputs.  
59. Belarus : Belarus applied for WTO accession in September 1993. The Working Party was 
established in October 1993 and held its first meeting in June 1997. Following a per iod of inactivity, 
during which no formal Working Party meetings were held between 2005 and 2016, the Working 
Party resumed its work in January 2017. The 12th meeting took place in July 2019. The draft Working 
Party Report is in its fourth revision. To dat e, 17 bilateral market access agreements have been 
signed and deposited with the Secretariat.  
60. Islamic Republic of Iran : The Islamic Republic of Iran applied for WTO accession in July  1996. 
The Working Party was established in May 2005. Following the circulation of the Memorandum on 
the Foreign Trade Regime in November  2009, Iran submitted technical inputs, including replies  to 
Members' questions on the Memorandum, in November 2011. The first meeting of the Working Party 
will be convened, following consultations of the Chairperson of the General Council with Members on 
the designation of a Chairperson of the Working Party.  
61. Lebanese Republic : The Lebanese Republic applied for WTO accession in January 1999. 
The Working Party was established in April 1999 and held  its first meeting in October 2002. 
The seventh meeting of the Working Party was held in October 2009. In preparation for the eighth 
meeting of the Working Party, negotiating inputs as well as the second revision of the Draft Working 
Party Report were circ ulated in April -June 2017. The eighth meeting will be convened subject to the 
submission of updated negotiating inputs to reflect changes introduced since 2017 and revised 
market access offers on goods and services.  The Lebanese Republic is subject to Cate gory III 
administrative measures.  
62. Libya: Libya applied for WTO accession in June 2004. The Working Party was established in 
September 2004 . No Working Party meeting has been held to date as Libya has not submitted any 
negotiating inputs to initiate the process.  
63. Sao Tomé and Principe : Sao Tomé and Principe applied for WTO accession in February 2005. 
The Working Party was established in June 2005. No Working Party meeting has been held to date 
as Sao Tomé and Principe has not submitted any negotiating inputs to initiate the process. Sao Tomé 
and Principe is subject to Category III administrative measures.   WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
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  64. Serbia : Serbia applied for WTO accession in December 2004. The Working Party was 
established in February 2005 and held its first meeting in October 2005. The 13th meeting of the 
Working Party was held in June  2013. To date, 13 bilateral market access agreements have been 
signed and depo sited with the Secretariat, while bilateral market access negotiations remain with a 
limited number of Members. Multilateral negotiations are based on the seventh revision of the Draft 
Working Party Report circulated in October  2012. The  14th meeting will be convened subject to 
outstanding domestic legislative action and the submission of required negotiating inputs.  
65. South Sudan : South Sud an applied for WTO accession in December 2017. The Working Party 
was established in December 2017 and held its first meeting in March 2019. The second meeting of 
the Working Party will be convened subject to the submission of required inputs. South Sudan i s 
subject to Category II I administrative measures.  
66. Sudan : Sudan applied for WTO accession in October 1994. The Working Party was established 
in October 1994 and held its first meeting in  July 2003. After years of dormancy, the Working Party 
resumed its work in January 2017 and held the fourth meeting in July 2017. At its fifth meeting held 
in July 2021, the Working Party agreed to transform the  Factual Summary of Points Raised to an 
Elements of a draft Working Party Report. To date, three bilateral market access agreements have 
been signed and deposited with the Secretariat. The sixth meeting will take place, following the 
submission of required  negotiating inputs.  
67. Syrian Arab Republic : The Syrian Arab Republic applied for WTO accession in October  2001. 
The Working Party was established in May 2010. No Working Party meeting has been held to date 
as the  Syrian Arab Republic has not submitted any negotia ting inputs to initiate the process. 
The Syrian Arab Republic is subject to Category III administra tive measures.  
68. Figure 2 provides a snapshot of the state of play in accession negotiations, as of 
February  2024. 
Figure 2: State of play in ongoing accession  negotiations  
 
 
 
 
WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
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  IV. POST -ACCESSION57 
69. The post-accession implementation support framework consists of five pillars:  
i. Country -Specific Post -Accession Implementation Strategy;  
ii. Specialized training and outreach on WTO post -accession;  
iii. Secretariat Note on "Best Practices on WTO Post -Accession";58 
iv. Dedicated webpage on "Post -accession — what next?" on the WTO website;59 
v. Internal Secretariat Note on Post -Accession Implementation and Monitoring.  
70. In 2023, the Secretariat continued moni toring the participation of Article XII Members in the 
work of the WTO and organized technical assistance and outreach sessions on post -accession 
(pillars  ii and v). The 11th China Round Table on WTO Accessions, organized on 1 -3 February 2023, 
reflected on  the results of the first 10 years of Lao PDR's WTO membership, based on the study 
"Lao PDR: a Retrospective on 10 Years of WTO Membership"60, and reviewed the latest best practices 
in the WTO post -accession of LDCs. Representatives of Article XII Members also continued taking 
part in discussions in various accession -related TA and outreach activities, to share their post -
accession experiences and give advice to current acceding governments.  
71. In parallel, in preparation for the conclusion of the accessions o f Comoros and Timor -Leste, 
preparatory work has started to assist these governments on the development of their respective 
comprehensive post -accession implementation strategies (pillar i). The Coordination Group on 
Accessions -related Technical Assistance reviewed their indicative post -accession technical assistance 
needs in its meeting on 20 April.61 In the case of Timor -Leste, a dedicated Round Table on 
Post-Accession was organized on 11 January 2024 to further review Timor -Leste's needs. Both 
governments  were assisted in the preparation of their implementation strategies based on their 
respective adopted Accessions Packages. This included a technical assistance mission to Dili on 
22-25 January 2024 to assist in the preparation of Timor -Leste's strategy, and a series of technical 
working sessions in Geneva in the case of Comoros. The resulting strategies were presented to 
Members and development partners at the Round Tables on Post -Accession for Comoros62 and Timor -
Leste63, held on 25 February 2024, on the margins of MC13.  
V. TRADE AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ARTICLE XII MEMBERS64  
72. This section explores the evolution of trade openness of Article XII Members, using trade as a 
percentage of GDP. This indicator  measures the importance of international trade (measured by the 
value of merchandise and services imports and exports) relative to a country 's economy (measured 
by GDP). This section illustrates that while the average GDP and average total trade of Article XII 
Members ha ve increased over time, as shown in the 2020 Annual Report by the Director -General on 
WTO Accessions65, the importance of int ernational trade relative to a country's economy has also 
grown, regardless of the type of trade that is being analysed (exports, imports, merchandise trade , 
and services trade).   
73. According to Chapter B66 of the World Trade Report 2023, "one of the key pie ces of evidence 
supporting the de -globalization (or "slowbalization ") narrative is the trend in global trade as a share 
of GDP, and specifically its evolution following the global financial crisis of 2008 -09." While growth 
was observed in global trade open ness prior to 2008, global trade openness declined immediately 
 
57 See the details of the accessions negotiated pursuant to Article XII in Annexes 5 and 6, as well as the 
basic economic profiles for Article XII members in Annex 2 -2.    
58 WT/ACC/27  
59 Available at WTO | WTO accessions - Post-accession – what next?   
60 The study is available here: laos_study.pdf (wto.org) . 
61 "Technical Assistance Coordination Group reviews Comoros, Timor -Leste post -accession needs " 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_26apr23_e.h tm 
62 WTO | Roundtable on Post -Accession of Comoros  
63 WTO | Roundtable on Post -Accession of Timor -Leste  
64 See also Annex 7.  
65 WT/ACC/38/Rev.1  
66 Available at World Trade Report 2023: Re -globalization for a secure, inclusive and sustainable future 
(wto.org)  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 19 - 
 
  after to 52% in 2009 and has stagnated since, never reaching its 2007 peak of 61%67. However, 
while the 2008 -2009 global financial crisis did have an impact on trade, it was not the only cause of 
this ensuing stagnation or decline .68  
74. Discussions around this stagnation or decline in global trade openness focused on "the rise in 
new industrial strategies, limits to global supply chains expansion as well as rising geopolitical 
tensions" which woul d result in production being re -shored, brought closer to large markets (near -
shoring) or strengthened with like -minded countries (friend -shoring)69. Multiple factors led to this 
stagnation, including "the shift towards services as the main source of incom e, the limits to the 
expansion of global value chains (GVCs), the development of a domestic supplier base in China, a 
slowdown in trade liberalization, the diminishing impact of cost reductions from technology 
breakthroughs, the tightening of financial con ditions with implications for foreign direct investment 
and trade credit, and government support for domestic industries."70  
75. Despite these explanations for de -globalization, Article XII Members on average have shown 
the opposite trend – a stark increase i n trade openness, peaking in 2022 at 146.14%, as shown in 
Figure 3. While a decrease in trade openness can be seen in 2020 due to the COVID -19 pandemic, 
dropping to 98.12%, Article XII Members on average recovered quickly past pre -pandemic levels in 
2021 (121.33%) and further registered a 25 -percentage point increase in 2022. This trend can be 
seen across all types of trade, whether looking at exports ( Figure 4), imports ( Figure 5), merchandise 
trade ( Figure 6) or services trade ( Figure  7).   
76. The bene fits of trade openness are directly related to the benefits of WTO Membership: 
accession to the WTO, and by extension trade openness, allows businesses to access a larger 
consumer base for the goods they produce and cheaper inputs for their production. Add itionally, 
increased international competition resulting from trade openness leads to greater efficiency and 
innovation. It also promotes the efficient allocation of resources as a result of specialization due to 
comparative advantage. Figure 8 illustrates  the evolution in trade openness of Article XII Members 
5 years before and after acceding to the WTO, highlighting a  54 percentage -point increase : from 
87.39% 5 years before accession to 141.33% 5 years after accession.  
77. Furthermore, open trade can help ta ckle environmental sustainability challenges by "providing 
access to environmental technologies embedded in goods and boosting energy efficiency through 
access to intermediate inputs." It also facilitates trade in environmental goods which reduce pollution  
and promote conservation and promotes the sharing of environmental technologies, elements which 
are all key in addressing the climate crisis.71   
78. Finally, trade openness can play a role in increasing resilience. Trade helps to secure access 
to essential g oods, such as vaccines and medical equipment, while facilitating the adaptation of food 
importing economies which promotes food security, two elements which are particularly useful in 
the face of the poly -crisis described in the World Trade Report. Trade o penness has also helped to 
reduce macroeconomic volatility in the last 50 years in certain economies.72 Global trade openness 
also reduces the likelihood of interstate military conflict, although this effect is stronger for countries 
that are far apart rel ative to countries that share a border.73 
 
67 Note that the tr ade openness data used in the World Trade Report 2023 are from the World Bank , 
calculated using World Bank national accounts data and OECD national accounts data. The trade openness data 
in this section are calculated using import and export data from the WTO and GDP data  from the World Bank, 
and is weighted by GDP. The exact levels of trade openness are therefore not directly c omparable, even though 
the trends can be compared.  
68 See Baldwin, R. (2022), "The peak globalisation myth: Part 1 ", voxeu.org. Available at: 
https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/ pea k-globalisation -myth-part-1. 
69 World Trade Report 2023, Chapter B .  
70 Ibid.  
71 Ibid.  
72 See Caselli, F.,  Koren, M., Lisicky, M. and Tenreyro, S. (2020), "Diversification Through Trade ", The 
Quarterly Journal of Economics 135(1):449 -502.  
73 See Lee, J. -W. and Pyun, J. H. (2016), "Does Trade Integration Contribute to Peace? ", Review of 
Development Economics 20(1):327 -344. WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 20 - 
 
  Figure  3: Trade Openness of Article XII Members Over Time  
 
Source:  WTO (Imports and Exports) and World Bank (GDP).  
Figure 4: Exports as Percent of GDP of Article XII Members  
 
Source: WTO (Imports and Exports) an d World Bank (GDP).  
 
WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 21 - 
 
  Figure 5: Imports as Percent of GDP of Article XII Members  
 
Source: WTO (Imports and Exports) and World Bank (GDP).  
Figure 6: Merchandise Trade as Percent of GDP of Article XII Members74 
 
Source: WTO (Imports and Exports) and World Bank (GDP).  
 
 
74 This document was re -issued on 27 March 2024 to correct the graph  Figure 6.  
WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 22 - 
 
  Figure 7: Services Trade as Percent of GDP of Article XII Members  
 
Source: WTO (Imports and Exports) and World Bank (GDP).  
 
Figure 8: Trade Openness of Article XII Members  before and after accession  
(Indices, WTO accession year = 100)  
 
 
Source:  WTO (Imports and Exports) and World Bank (GDP).  
 
WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 23 - 
 
  VI. TRADE FOR PEACE PROGRAMME  
79. The Trade for Peace (T4P) Programme has been implemented through its four pillars: 
(1) Political Engagement and Partnerships; (2) Public Dialogue and Outreach; (3) Research; and 
(4) Training and Capacity Building.  Activities undertaken these pillars are regularly published through 
WTO press releases and social media platforms, including X (formerly  Twitter)  and LinkedIn. During 
the period under review, 6 press releases were issued and 43 tweets were issued to keep the public 
informed on T4P activities on a regular basis.       
1. PILLAR 1: POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS  
80. As part of the "Trade for Peace: Future Leaders"  youth initiative , activities in 2023  included 
the T4P Speed -meeting: When Trade and Peace Future Leader Meet75 (27 February) and two podcast 
episodes, featuring youth from the trade and peace communities. These activities sought to: (i) raise 
awareness on the realit ies of youth involvement in conflict and on the role they can play in building 
peace through trade; (ii)  provide a platform for youth voices undertaking peacebuilding efforts 
through trade; and (iii) foster creative -thinking and innovative solutions for trade  and peace.  
2. PILLAR 2: PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND OUTREACH  
81. In 2023, the Secretariat organized five outreach activities which aimed at deepening the 
understanding of the trade -peace nexus. These activities included:  (i) A T4P Perspective on Women's 
Empowerment i n Fragile and Conflict -affected States76 (31 March); (ii) Summer Program of 
International Organizations 2023 , LEDECO  Centre Swiss  & Central University of Finance and 
Economics of China – Presentation on the WTO, Trade for Peace and the Role of China (23 Ju ne); 
(iii) 2023 Global Peace Index: Measuring Peace in an Interconnected and Unstable World77 (20 July); 
(iv) 2023 WTO Public Forum – T4P Talk: A Conversation with Peace and Trade Negotiators 
(13 September) ; and (v) Presentation on the WTO, Trade for Peace  and the Role of China to the 
University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) (26 September) .  
82. In 2023, the T4P Podcast78 featured two episodes with three guests  under the Youth Series 
(Pillar 1) . As of 29 November 2023, episodes were downloaded 5554 times from listeners from 
100 countries.  
3. PILLAR 3: RESEARCH  
83. In 2023, the following research projects have been in development, including: (i) the T4P 
Publication, (ii) the T4P Report, (iii) a research project on interlinkages between trade and peac e 
agreements and negotiations, and (iv) a consultancy project with the University of St. Gallen on T4P 
case studies.  
84. The first publication on Trade for Peace was further developed and refined in 2023, through a 
review process conducted by the Selection Co mmittee. The book will feature approximately 15 pieces  
that explor e the trade -peace nexus through intersecting topics, including its relation to gender, 
SMEs, macroeconomic stability and development. It will include contributions from several 
institutional partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Trade Centre 
(ITC), the United Nation s Development Programme (UNDP), and independent experts and 
academics. The publication is scheduled for release in 2024, following a primer event held during 
the 12th China Round Table on WTO Accessions held on the margins of MC13 .  
85. The T4P Report, develop ed in collaboration with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), 
aims to analy se the relationship between various trade -related and peace -related indicators to 
assess the contribution of trade to peace. In 2023, the work conducted focused on adjusting  the 
methodology and selecting the indicators for the analysis . More specially, this preliminary phase 
 
75 "Future leaders look at ways to increase youth engagement in trade for peace worldwide": 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/tfp_27feb23_e.htm   
76 "DDG Zhang: Women's perspectives are crucial to achieve sustainable peace through trade": 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/ddgxz_31mar23_e.htm  
77 "Panel explores role of trade in addressing global fragility and conflict": 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/tfp_20jul23_e.htm  
78 The podcast is available here: Trade for Peace | a podcast by Trade for Peace (podb ean.com)  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 24 - 
 
  concentrated on Country Profiles , showcasing the stories of how trade fosters peace in specific fragile 
and conflict -affected states (FCS) . This step ser ves as the foundation  before the scope of the analysis 
is expanded.  
86. In partnership with the TradeLab Internatio nal Economic Law Clinic at the Geneva Graduate 
Institute , a research project analysing interlinkages between trade and peace agreements and 
negotiations was developed . Conducted between S eptember 2023 to February 2024 , the research 
provided an overview of more than 168 peace agreements and 122 trade agreements, identifying 
and categorizing 1414 trade and peace -related provisions therein. The analysis revealed a trend of 
increasing integration of both types of provisions in to the respective agreements since the 1990s . 
Enhanced by interviews with experts on peace and trade negotiations, the report offer s practical 
guidance for trade negotiators and peace mediators who aim to use trade for peace in practice.  
87. In collaboration with the University of St. Gallen  and Prof. Simon Evenett, the WTO -HSG 
Consultancy Project79 was launched in the Autumn 2023 semester. 15 students each prepared a 
2000 – 3000-word case study on a specific instance in history where trade and peace interacted. 
These case studies were presented in the WTO80 and contributed to the development of a 
foundational knowledge base on the trade -peace nexus upon which policy -making could be better 
informed.  
88. Other research projects are ongoing, including research on the use of trade policy measures 
during and after confli ct, which, in 2023, was focused on data selection and monitoring.  
4. PILLAR 4: TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING  
89. In September, the second edition of the master's level course on Trade for Peace81 took place 
as part of the Master in International Development S tudies (MINT) at the Geneva Graduate Institute. 
Following positive feedback on the first edition of the course in 2022, the T4P MINT Course was 
delivered again for the fall semester for the 2023 -24 academic year . The course consisted of 
14 lectures deliver ed by 19 leading academics and practitioners working on trade, peace, 
development and humanitarian affairs, including a final Concluding Roundtable event which took 
place at the WTO where students could exchange and discuss directly with experts and 
policy makers.82 Nineteen students from various disciplines from the Graduate Institute were enrolled 
in the course.  
 
 
 
 
79 "WTO, St. Gallen University launch trade for peace research project":  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/tfp_28sep23_e.htm  
80 "WTO hosts closing workshop of St. Gallen University's Trade for Peace research project": 
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/tfp_05dec23_e.htm  
81 Full syllabus available at: T4P MINT Course Syllabus (wto.org)  
82 "Second Interdisciplinary Master’s Course on Trade for Peace successfull y concludes":  
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/archive_e/tfp_arc_e.htm   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 25 - ANNEX 1 – ACCESSIONS DIVISION WORK INDICATORS (201 9-2023) 
  2019  2020  2021  2022  2023 ** 
Membership & Accessions  
New WTO member  0 0 0 0 0 
Acceding Government  22 23 23 24 24 
Accession -related Meetings & Missions  
WP meetings  4 4 3 4 9 
IGA 8 6 4 0 0 
IGAG  7 5 5 6 4 
g7 plus WTO Accessions 
Group  - - 16 5 3 
Technical assistance & 
outreach  20 27 45 59* 40 
Missions  17 3 1 5 15 
Trade for Peace Programme  - - 30 48 12 
Media coverage    Accessions  T4P Accessions  T4P Accessions  T4P Accessions  T4P 
Press Releases  12 15 5 11 10 16 5 23 6 
Tweets  100 243 - 169 158 192 134 256 43 
Document Ou tputs Accessions  T4P 
Newsletter  7 6 4 3 3 3 0 
* Counting methodology: all activities in 2022 including specific sessions covering different topics  
** Cut off date: 29 February 2024  
Source:  Accessions Division internal data.  
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 26 - ANNEX 2 – BASIC ECONOMIC PROFILES OF ACCEDING GOVERNMENTS AND ARTICLE XII MEMBERS  
Table 2-1: Acceding Governments  
Acceding 
Government  Population1 
(thousands)  GDP2 
(millions USD)  GDP per 
Capita3 
(USD)  Trade per capita3 
(USD)  Trade as % 
GDP3 Merchandise 
exports2 
(millions 
USD)  Merchandise 
imports2 
(millions 
USD)  Commercial 
services 
exports2 
(millions 
USD)  Commercial 
services 
imports2 
(millions 
USD)  
Algeria  44,903.23  195,415 3,771 1,000 26.50  60,924 39,027 3,523 7,677 
Andorra  79.82  3,352.03 41,992.77  N.A. 
Azerbaijan  10,141.76  69,906 5,496 2,314 42.10  38,147 14,540 6,370 7,688 
The Bahamas  409.98  73,120 7,221 9,744 33.50  838 3,754 3,624 1,789 
Belarus  9,228.07  72,793.46 7,888 4,570 63.30  22,793 38,655 9,191 5,031 
Bhutan  782.46  2,642 3,324 1,348 40.60 724 1,511 20 198 
Bosnia and 
Herzegovina  3,233.53  24,473.91 6,643 3,152 47.50  9,674 15,377 2,833 899 
Comoros, Union 
of the*  836.77  1,233 1,347 272 20.20 54 348 100 155 
Curaçao  150 N.A. 553 2,023 1,548 851 
Equatorial 
Guinea  1,674.91  16,451 8,912 3,1474 37.204 7,500 2,800 1815 1,0485 
Ethiopia*  123,379.92  120,369 1,035 147 14.20 3,970 18,663 6,821 7,447 
Iran 88,550.57  352,213 3,288 783 23.80  77,200 55,446 6,345 11,400 
Iraq 44,496.12  270,364 5,230 1,726 33 138,291 87,216 5,916 23,194 
Lebanese 
Republic  5,489.74  24,4945 6,3435 3,0424 484 4,370 19,503 5,8216 4,7386 
Libya  6,812.34  44,066 6,456 3,1324 32.104 37,686 29,634 2015 3,2585 
Sao Tome and 
Principe*  227.38  552 2,335 544 23.30  22 196 46 47 
Serbia  6,664.45  70,909 9,088 5,244 57.70  29,058 41,148 11,593 9,109 
Somalia*  17,597.51  N.A. 635 2,088 
South Sudan*  10,913.16  7,871 450 263 58.40  873 1,255 318 1,713 
Sudan*  46,874.20  49,423 868 180 20.70  4,357 11,095 1,522 1,386 
Syrian Arab 
Republic  22,125.25  60,0437 2,6427 8677 32.807 4,514 5,846 2,4348 2,8188 
Timor -Leste*  1,341.30  3,659 2,341 972 41.50  473 934 44 526 
Turkmenista n 6,430.77  78,003 10,598 N.A. 13,226 3,250 N.A. 
Uzbekistan  35,648.10  80,418 2,027 670 33.10  15,287 28,264 4,806 7,277 
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 27 - Table 2-2: Article XII Members  
Article XII 
Member  Population1 
(thousands)  GDP2 
(millions USD)  GDP per 
Capita2 
(USD)  Trade per 
capita3 
(USD)  Trade as 
% GDP3 Merchandise 
exports2 
(millions USD)  Merchandise 
imports2 
(millions USD)  Commercial 
services 
exports2 
(millions 
USD)  Commercial 
services 
imports2 
(millions 
USD)  
Afghanistan*  41,128.77  20,1365 593 136 23 992 5,762 5975 1,0425 
Albania  2,777.6 9 18,509 6,032 2,228 36.9 4,309 8,399 4,962 2,466 
Armenia  2,780.4 7 19,503 5,177 2,232 43.1 5,360 8,769 4,139 2,510 
Bulgaria  6,465.097  89,115 11,851 7,304 61.6 50,239 58,049 12,474 6,890 
Cabo Verde  593.149  2,224 3,673 1,489 40.5 46 882 542 232 
Cambodia*  16,767.84  28,544 1,703 1,646 96.6 22,472 29,805 2,246 2,730 
China  1,412,175 18,100,044 11,970 2,214 18.5 3,593,523 2,716,151 422,333 461,450 
Croatia  3,855.6  71,019 16,763 8,999 53.7 25,306 44,301 20,925 5,953 
Ecuador  18,001 116,360 6,041 1,610 26.6 32,658 33,049 2,757 5,452 
Estonia  1,348.84  38,131 26,720 20,887 78.2 22,405 26,228 11,359 8,790 
Georgia  3,712.50  24,606 5,306 2,809 52.9 5,583 13,548 5,568 2,920 
Jordan  11,285.8 7 48,836 4,513 1,881 41.7 12,380 27,290 7,832 5,574 
Kazakhstan  19,621.97  225,784 10,220 3,175 31.1 84,663 49,586 7,694 9,264 
Kyrgyz Republic  6,974.9  11,052 1,382 737 53.3 2,187 9,629 1,267 1,348 
Lao PDR*  7,529.4 8 15,304 2,356 967 41.1 8,198 7,244 405 528 
Latvia  1,879.38  42,225 20,483 13,452 65.7 24,121 29,497 7,338 5,034 
Liberia*  5,302.68  3,974 677 228 33.7 1,058 1,528 12 206 
Lithuania  2,831.6 4 70,523 23,037 18,174 78.9 46,340 54,938 18,249 11,899 
Moldova  2,538.89  14,410 5,105 2,388 46.8 4,335 9,219 2,228 1,329 
Mongolia  3,398.3 7 16,833 4,441 2,748 61.9 12,540 8,704 1,132 3,465 
Montenegro  617.21  6,104 8,979 4,805 53.5 742 3,704 2,337 1,006 
Nepal*  30,547.58  40,149 1,231 279 22.7 1,296 13,735 1,138 1,967 
North Macedonia  2,057.6 8 13,671 6,427 4,789 74.5 8,727 12,755 2,426 15,77 
Oman  4,576.3 114,667 20,354 9,949 48.9 66,456 38,704 2,787 10,607 
Panama  4,408.58  71,966 14,568 3,659 43.6 15,278 29,249 15,870 5,896 
Russian 
Federation  144,236.93  2,215,294 12,731 2,986 23.5 588,328 280,353 48,286 69,728 
Samoa  222.38  832 4,245 1,410 33.2 42 440 130 102 
Saudi Arabia  36,408.82  1,108,149 26,088 7,325 28.1 411,184 189,877 31,269 70,078 
Seychelles  119.8 9 1,926 15,799 17,954 113.6  537 1,364 1,665 952 
Chinese Taipei  N.A. 761,691 31,459 18,241 58 477,778 435,835 58,181 44,619 
Tajikistan  9,952.7 9 10,467 951 310 32.6 2,142 5,167 134 678  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 28 - Article XII 
Member  Population1 
(thousands)  GDP2 
(millions USD)  GDP per 
Capita2 
(USD)  Trade per 
capita3 
(USD)  Trade as 
% GDP3 Merchandise 
exports2 
(millions USD)  Merchandise 
imports2 
(millions USD)  Commercial 
services 
exports2 
(millions 
USD)  Commercial 
services 
imports2 
(millions 
USD)  
Tonga  106.8 6 498 4,860 1,864 38.4 14 245 42 104 
Ukraine  38,000 151,502 4,334 1,805 41.6 44,376 55,237 15,626 24,331 
Vanuat u 326.74  1,001 3,149 1,52210 50.910 61 484 296 1976 
Viet Nam  98,186.8 6 406,452 3,798 2,35911 100.011 371,288 359,148 12,604 25,294 
Yemen*  33,696.61  20,645 572 25412 18.512 903 5,312 1799 1,3519 
 Least Developed Countries ( LDCs) 
N.A: No data available.  
 
Source:  WTO Stats Portal (accessed  in January 2024) , unless otherwise indicated. For dates of Membership for Article XII Members, and dates of establishment of Working 
Parties for Acceding Governments, see Annexes 2 and 3, respectively . 
1 For the year 202 2. Source: World Bank, Population: All Countries and Economies, available at https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL  (accessed in 
January  2024). 
2 For 202 2 unless otherwise indicated.  
3 For 20 20–2022 unless otherwise indicated.  
4 For 2018 –2020.  
5 For 2020.  
6 For 2021.  
7 For 2010.  
8 For 2011.  
9 For 2018.  
10 For 2015 -2017.  
11 For 2016 -2018.  
12 For 2014 -2016.   
    
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 29 - ANNEX 3 – SUMMARY TABLE OF ONGOING ACCESSIONS  
 Country  Application  Working 
Party 
Established  Memorandum  First Working 
Party Meeting  Latest*  
Working 
Party 
Meeting  Number of 
Working 
Party 
Meetings  Goods Offer  Services Offer  Draft 
Working 
Party 
Report**  Initial  Latest*  Initial  Latest*  
1.  Algeria  06/1987  06/1987  07/1996  04/1998  03/2014  12 03/2002  11/2013  03/2002  10/2013  02/2014  
2.  Andorra  07/1997  10/1997  03/1999  10/1999  — 1 09/1999  — 09/1999  — — 
3.  Azerbaijan  06/1997  07/1997  04/1999  06/2002  07/2023  15 05/2005  04/2023  05/2005  02/2015  05/2023  
4.  Bahamas  05/2001  07/2001  04/2009  09/2010  04/2019  4 03/2012  08/2018  03/2012  08/2018  12/2018 (FS)  
5.  Belarus  09/1993  10/1993  01/1996  12/1997  07/2019  7 03/1998  05/2004  02/2000  09/2006  01/2020  
6.  Bhutan  09/1999  10/1999  02/2003  11/2004  01/2008  4 08/2005  08/2023  08/2005  11/2023  08/2023  
7.  Bosnia and 
Herzegovina  05/1999  07/1999  10/2002  11/2003  02/2018  9 10/2004  02/2007  10/2004  02/2007  10/2017  
8.  Comoros  02/2007  10/2007  10/2013  12/2016  01/2024  10 10/2016  04/2017  10/2016  04/2017  12/2023  
9.  Curaçao  10/2019  03/2020  09/2021  — — — — — — — — 
10.  Equatorial Guinea  02/2007  02/2008  12/2022  — — — — — — — — 
11.  Ethiopia  01/2003  02/2002  01/2007  05/2008  01/2020  4 02/2012  02/2024  12/2019  12/2019  12/2019 (FS)  
12.  Iran 09/1996  05/2005  11/2009  — — — — — — — — 
13.  Iraq 09/2004  12/2004  09/2005  04/2007  04/2008  2 03/2024  03/2024  03/2024  03/2024  07/2022 (FS)  
14.  Lebanese Republic  02/1999  04/1999  06/2001  10/2002  10/2009  7 11/2003  06/2004  12/2003  06/2004  04/2017  
15.  Libya 12/2001  07/2004  — — — — — — — — — 
16.  Sao Tome and 
Principe  02/2005  05/2005  — — — — — — — — — 
17.  Serbia  12/2004  02/2005  03/2005  10/2005  06/2013  11 04/2006  11/2008  10/2006  11/2008  10/2012  
18.  Somalia  12/2015  12/2016  05/2022  — — — — — — — — 
19.  South Sudan  12/2017  12/2017  12/2018  03/2019  03/2019  1 — — — — — 
20.  Sudan  11/1994  10/1994  01/1999  07/2003  07/2021  5 07/2004  05/2021  06/2004  06/2021  06/2021 (FS)  
21.  Syrian Arab Republic  10/2001  05/2010  — — — — — — — — — 
22.  Timor -Leste  04/2015  12/2016  06/2017  10/2020  01/2024  7 05/2021  06/2022  06/2021  06/2022  12/2023  
23.  Turkmenistan  11/2021  02/2022  — — — — — — — — — 
24.  Uzbekistan  12/1994  12/1994  10/1998  07/2002  11/2023  7 09/2005  06/2023  09/2005  11/2021  08/2023 (FS)  
*  As of the date of this document.  
**  Most  recent Factual Summary (FS), draft Working Party Report or Elements of a draft Working Party Report.   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 30 - ANNEX 4 - WTO ACCESSIONS WORKING PARTY CHAIRPERSONS  
As of 29 February 2024  
No. Government  Date Working Party established  WP Chairperson*  
1.  Algeria  17 June 1987 Vacant  
2.  Andorra  22 October  1997 N.A.*  
3.  Azerbaijan  16 July 1997 H.E. Mr. Alparslan ACARSOY (Türkiye)  
4.  The Bahamas  18 July 2001 H.E. Ms. Nadia THEODORE (Canada)  
5.  Belarus  27 October  1993 Pending  
6.  Bhutan  6 October  1999 H.E. Dr.. Desirée SCHWEITZER (Austria)  
7.  Bosnia and Herzegovina  15 July 1999 H.E. M s Anita PIPAN (Slovenia)   
8.  Comoros, Union of the  9 October  2007 H.E. Mr. Omar ZNIBER (Morocco)  
9.  Curaçao  3 March 2020  H.E. Mr. Matthew WILSON (Barbados)  
10.  Equatorial Guinea  5 February  2008 H.E. Dr. José R. SANCHEZ -FUNG (Dominican Republic)  
11.  Ethiopia  10 February  2003 Ms. Rebecca FISHER LAMB (United Kingdom)  
12.  Iran 26 May 2005 Pending  
13.  Iraq 13 December  2004 H.E. Mr. Saqer ABDULLAH ALMOQBEL (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)  
14.  Lebanese Republic  14 April 1999 Mr. Etienne OUDOT DE DAINVILLE  (France)  
15.  Libya 27 July 2004 N.A.*  
16.  Sao Tomé and Principe  26 May 2005 N.A.*  
17.  Serbia  15 February  2005 H.E. M s Margit SZŰCS (Hungary)  
18.  Somalia  7 December 2016  H.E. Ms. Nina TORNBERG (Sweden)  
19.  South Sudan  13 December 2017  H.E. Dr. Ahmed Ihab GAMALELDIN (Egypt)  
20.  Sudan  25 October  1994 Mr. Naoki HIKOTA  (Japan)  
21.  Syrian Arab Republic  4 May 2010 N.A.*  
22.  Timor -Leste  7 December 2016  H.E. Mr. Rui MACIEIRA (Portugal)  
23.  Turkmenistan  23 February 2022  N.A.*  
24.  Uzbekistan  21 December  1994 H.E. Mr. Seong deok YUN (Republic of Korea)  
* The Chairperson is appointed after the circulation of a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime by the acceding government.  
 
 
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 31 - ANNEX 5 - 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/A CC/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. North Macedonia  04/04/2003  WT/A CC/807/27  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/494  WT/L/494  
19. Nepal  23/04/2004  WT/ACC/NPL/16  Add.1  Add.2  WT/MIN(03)/19  WT/MIN(03)/19  
20. Cambodia  13/10/2004  WT/ACC/KHM/21  Add.1  Add.2  WT/MIN(03)/18  WT/MIN(03)/18  
21. Saudi Arabia, Kingdom 
of 11/12/2005  WT/ACC/SAU/61  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/6 27 WT/L/627 
22. Viet Nam  11/01/2007  WT/ACC/VNM/48  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/6 62 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. Cabo 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 People's Democratic 
Republic  02/02/2013  WT/ACC/LAO/45  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/8 65 WT/L/865 
31. Tajikistan  02/03/2013  WT/ACC/TJK/30  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/872  WT/L/872  
32. Yemen  26/06/2014  WT/ACC/YEM/42  Add.1  Add.2  WT/MIN(13)/24  
WT/L/905  WT/MIN(13)/24  
WT/L/905   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 32 - Government*  Membership 
Date  Working Party Report  Goods Schedule  Services 
Schedule  Protocol of Accession  General Council 
Decision  
33. Seychelles  26/04/2015  WT/ACC/SYC/64  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/9 44 WT/L/944 
34. Kazakhstan  30/11/2015  WT/ACC/KAZ/93  Add.1  Add.2  WT/L/957  WT/L/957  
35. Liberia  14/07/2016  WT/ACC/LBR/23  Add.1  Add.2  WT/MIN(15)/38  
WT/L/973  WT/MIN(15)/38  
WT/L/973  
36. Afghanistan  29/07/2016  WT/ACC/A FG/36  Add.1  Add.2  WT/MIN(15)/39  
WT/L/974  WT/MIN(15)/39  
WT/L/974  
*  Sorted by date of membership.  
  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 33 - ANNEX 6 – TIMETABLE OF COMPLETED ACCESSIONS  
  Ecuador  Bulgaria  Mongolia  Panama  Kyrgyz Republic  
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  09/1992   09/1986   07/1991   08/1991   02/1996   
Working Party Established  10/1992   02/1990   10/1991   10/1991   04/1996   
Memorandum  05/1993   07/1993   01/1992   06/1993   08/1996   
1st Meeting of Working Party  07/1993  2 months  07/1993  1 month  06/1993  1 year  
5 months  04/1994  10 months  03/1997  7 months  
Draft Working Party Report  10/1994  1 year  
5 months  05/1994  10 months  12/1994  2 years  
11 months  05/1996  2 years  
11 months  04/1998  1 year  
8 months  
Report Adopted by Working 
Party 07/1995  2 years  
2 months  09/1996  2 years  
2 months  06/1996  4 years  
5 months  09/1996  2 years  
3 months  07/1998  1 year 
11  months  
Report Adopted by Council  07/1995  2 years  
2 months  10/1996  3 years  
3 months  07/1996  4 years  
6 months  10/1996  3 years  
4 months  10/1998  2 years  
2 months  
Membership  01/1996  2 years  
8 months  12/1996  3 years  
5 months  01/1997  5 years  09/1997  4 years  
3 months  12/1998  2 years  
4 months  
Total Time  3 years 4 months  10 years 3 months  5 years 6 months  5 years 1 month  2 years 10 months  
 
  Latvia  Estonia  Jordan  Georgia  Albania  
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  11/1993   03/1994   01/1994   07/1996   11/1992   
Working Party Established  12/1993   03/1994   01/1994   07/1996   12/1992   
Memorandum  08/1994   03/1994   10/1994   07/1997   01/1995   
1st Meeting of Working Party  03/1995  7 months  11/1994  8 months  10/1996  2 years  03/1998  11  months  04/1996  1 year 
        3 months  
Draft Working Party Report  12/1996  2 years  11/1998  4 years  04/1999  4 years  02/1999  1 year  07/1999  4 years  
 4 months   8 months   6  months   10  months   6 months  
Report Adopted by Working 
Party 09/1998  4 years  04/1999  5 years  11/1999  5 years  10/1999  2 years  07/2000  5 years  
 1 month   1 month   1 month   6 months   6 months  
Report Adopted by Council  10/1998  4 years  05/1999  5 years  12/1999  5 years  10/1999  2 years  07/2000  5 years  
 2 months   2 months   2 months   6 months   6 months  
Membership  02/1999  4 years  11/1999  5 years  04/2000  5 years  06/2000  3 years  09/2000  5 years  
 6 months   8 months   6 months   2 months   8 months  
Total Time  5 years 3 months  5 years 8 months  6 years 4 months  4 years 1 month  7 years 10 months  
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 34 -   Oman  Croatia  Lithuania  Moldova  China  
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  04/1996   09/1993   01/1994   11/1993   07/1986   
Working Party Established  06/1996   10/1993   02/1994   12/1993   03/1987   
Memorandum  06/1996   06/1994   12/1994   12/1996   02/1987   
1st Meeting of Working Party  04/1997  10  months  04/1996  1 year  11/1995  11 months  06/1997  6 months  10/1987  8 months  
   10 months        
Draft Working Party Report  03/1999  2 years  08/1998  2 years  06/1997  2 years  07/1999  2 years  12/1994  7 years  
 9  months   2  months   6 months   7 months   10 months  
Report Adopted by Working 
Party 09/2000  4 years  06/2000  6 years  10/2000  5 years  12/2000  4 years  09/2001  14 years  
 3  months     10 months     7 months  
Report Adopted by Council  10/2000  4 years  07/2000  6 years  12/2000  6 years  05/2001  4 years  11/2001  14 years  
 4  months   1 month     5 months   9 months  
Membership  11/2000  4 years  11/2000  6 years  05/2001  6 years  07/2001  4 years  12/2001  14 years  
 5 months   5 months   5 months   7 months   10 months  
Total Time  4 years 7 months  7 years 2 months  7 years 5 months  7 years 4 months  15 years 5 months  
 
  Chinese Taipei  Armenia  North Macedonia  Nepal * Cambodia * 
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  01/1992   11/1993   12/1994   05/1989   12/1994   
Working Party Established  09/1992   12/1993   12/1994   06/1989   12/1994   
Memorandum  10/1992   04/1995   04/1999   08/1998   06/1999   
1st Meeting of Working Party  11/1992  1 month  01/1996  9 months  07/2000  1 year  05/2000  1 year  05/2001  1 year  
     3 months   9 months   11 months  
Draft Working Party Report  03/1998  5 years  03/1997  1 year  05/2002  2 years  06/2003  4 years  03/2003  3 years  
 5 months   11 months   11 months   10 months   9 months  
Report Adopted by Working Party  09/2001  8 years  11/2002  6 years  09/2002  3 years  08/2003  5 years  07/2003  4 years  
 11 months   7 months   5 months     1 month  
Report Adopted by Council  11/2001  9 years  12/2002  6 years  10/2002  3 years  09/2003  5 years  09/2003  4 years  
 1 month   8 months   6 months   1 month   3 months  
Membership  01/2002  9 years  02/2003  6 years  04/2003  4 years  04/2004  5 years  10/2004  5 years  
 2 months   10 months     8 months   4 months  
Total Time  10 years  9 years 3 months  8 years 3 months  14 years 11 months  9 years 10 months  
  
 
  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 35 -   Saudi Arabia  Viet Nam  Tonga  Ukraine  Cabo Verde * 
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  06/1993   01/1995   06/1995   11/1993   11/1999   
Working Party Established  07/1993   01/1995   11/1995   12/1993   07/2000   
Memorandum  07/1994   09/1996   05/1998   07/1994   07/2003   
1st Meeting of Working Party  05/1996  1 year  07/1998  1 year  04/2001  2 years  02/1995  7 months  03/2004  8 months  
 10 months   10 months   11 months      
Draft Working Party Report  01/2000  5 years  11/2004  8 years  03/2003  4 years  03/2004  9 years  06/2005  1 year  
 6 months   2 months   10 months   8 months   11 months  
Report Adopted by Working Party  10/2005  11 years  10/2006  10 years  11/2005  7 years  01/2008  13 years  12/2007  4 years  
 3 months   1 month   6 months   6 months   5 months  
Report Adopted by Council  11/2005  11 years  11/2006  10 years  12/2005  7 years  02/2008  13 years  12/2007  4 years  
 4 months   2 months   7 months   7 months   5 months  
Membership  12/2005  11 years  01/2007  10 years  07/2007  9 years  05/2008  13 years  07/2008  5 years  
 5 months   4 months   2 months   10 months    
Total Time  12 years 6 months  12 years  12 years 1 month  14 years 6 months  8 years 8 months  
 
   Montenegro  Samoa * Russian Federation  Vanuatu * Lao PDR * 
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  12/2004   04/1998   06/1993   06/1995   07/1997   
Working Party Established  02/2005   07/1998   07/1993   07/1995   02/1998   
Memorandum  03/2005   02/2000   03/1994   11/1995   03/2001   
1st Meeting of Working Party  10/2005  7 months  03/2002  2 years  07/1995  1 year  07/1996  8 months  10/2004  3 years  
   1 month   4 months     7 months  
Draft Working Party Report  02/2008  2 years  06/2003  3 years  03/2002  8 years  09/1999  3 years  02/2012  10 year  
 11 months   4 months   10 months   10 months   11 months  
Report Adopted by Working Party  12/2011  6 years  11/2011  11 years  11/2011  17 years  05/2011  15 years  10/2012  11 years  
 9 months   7 months   8 months   6 months   7 months  
Report Adopted by Council  12/2011  6 years  12/2011  11 years  12/2011  17 years  10/2011  15 years  10/2012  11 years  
 9 months   10 months   9 months   11 months   7 months  
Membership  04/2012  7 years  05/2012  12 years  08/2012  18 years  08/2012  16 years  02/2013  11 years  
 1 month   3 months   5 months   9 months   11 months  
Total Time  7 years 4 months  14 years 1 month  19 years 2 month  17 years 2 months  15 years 7 months  
 
  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 36 -   Tajikistan  Yemen * Seychelles  Kazakhstan  Liberia * Afghanistan * 
  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time 
Since 
Memo  Date Time 
Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  Date Time Since 
Memo  
Application  05/2001   04/2000   05/1995   01/1996   06/2007   11/2004   
Working Party Established  07/2001   07/2000   07/1995   02/1996   12/2007   12/2004   
Memorandum  02/2003   11/2002   08/1996   09/1996   04/2011   03/2009   
1st Meeting of Working Party  03/2004  1 year  11/2004  2 years  02/1997  6 months  03/1997  6 months  07/2012  1 year  01/2011  1 year  
 1 month         3 months   10 months  
Draft Working Party Report  06/2011  8 years  12/2009  7 years  09/2013  17 years  05/2005  8 years  03/2015  3 years  06/2013  4 years  
 4 months   1 month   1 month   8 months   11 months   3 months  
Report Adopted by Working 
Party 11/2012  9 years  10/2013  10 years  11/2014  18 years  06/2015  18 years  10/2015  4 years  11/2015  6 years  
 9 months   11 
months   3 months   9 months   6 months   8 months  
Report Adopted by Council  12/2012  9 years  12/2013  11 years  12/2014  18 years  07/2015  18 years  12/2015  4 years  12/2015  6 years  
 10 months   1 month   4 months   10 months   8 months   9 months  
Membership  03/2013  10 years  06/2014  11 years  04/2015  18 years  11/2015  19 years  07/2016  5 years  07/2016  7 years  
 1 month   7 months   8 months   2 months   3 months   4 months  
Total Time  11 years 10 months  14 years 2 months  19 years 11 month  19 years 10 months  9 years 1 month  11 years 8 months  
 
Overall Average  (from establishment of Working Party)  10 years 2 months  
LDCs Accessions  12 years 6 months  
Non-LDCs Accessions  9 years 4 months  
* LDCs. Cabo Verde, Samoa and Vanuatu acceded to the WTO as LDCs. They graduated from LDC  status in 2007, 2014, and 2020, respectively .  
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 37 - ANNEX 7 – DATA ON TRADE PERFORMANCE  
Table 7-1: Value of merchandise trade and annual percentage change (1995 –2022) 
(Billion dollars and percentag e) 
    1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  
Article XII Members  Value  857 911 975 899 941 1,208  1,194  1,360  1,746  
Annual percentage change   6.2%  7.1%  -7.8%  4.6%  28.4%  -1.1%  13.9%  28.4%  
World  Value  10,453  10,953  11,331  11,186  11,646  13,102  12,603  13,157  15,362  
Year-on-year percentage change   4.8%  3.4%  -1.3%  4.1%  12.5%  -3.8%  4.4%  16.8%  
 
(Billion dollars and percentage)  
    2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  
Article XII Members  Value  2,307  2,845  3,469  4,217  5,122  3,998  5,278  6,573 6,926 7,270 
Annual percentage change  32.1%  23.3%  21.9%  21.5%  21.5%  -21.9%  32.0%  24.6%  5.4% 5.0% 
World  Value  18,696  21,296  24,500  28,301  32,66 7 25,28 1 30,74 1 36,775 37,17 1 37,929 
Year-on-year percentage change  21.7%  13.9%  15.1% 15.5%  15.4%  -22.6%  21.6%  19.6%  1.1%  2.0%  
 
(Billion dollars and percentage)  
    2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Article XII Members  Value  7,321 6,344 5,942 6,753 7,635 7,592 7,456  9,725  10,369  
Annual percentage change  0.7% -13.3% -6.3%  13.6%  13.1% -0.6% -1.8%   
30.4%   
6.6%  
World  Value  38,065 33,29 1 32,242 35,718 39,368 38,352 35,527 44,915  50,541  
Year-on-year percentage change  0.4%  -12.5%  -3.2% 10.8%  10.2% -2.6% -7.4%   
26.4%   
12.5%  
Source:  WTO Stats Portal (accessed in January 2023).  
 
 
 
 
   
  WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265  
 
- 38 - Table 7-2: Value of trade in commercial services* and annual percentage change (1995 –2022) 
(Billion dollars and percentage)  
    1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  
Article XII Members  Value  155 168 189 177 179 200 210 237 274 349 
Annual percentage change   8.4% 12.5%  -6.3%  1.1.% 11.7% 5.0% 12.9%  15.6% 27.4% 
World  Value  2,369  2,536  2,629  2,653  2,784  2,955  2,975  3,159  3,644  4,396  
Year-on-year percentage change   7.0% 3.7%  0.9%  4.9%  6.1%  0.7%  6.2%  15.4%  20.6%  
 
(Billion dollars and percentage)  
    2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  
Article XII Members  Value  411 488 639 755 671 788 929 1,009  1,109  
Annual percentage change  17.7%  18.8%  31.0%  18.1%  -11.0%  17.4%  17.8%  8.6%  10.0%  
World  Value  5,179  5,846 6,973 7,868 7,046 7,676 8,623 8,905 9,442 
Year-on-year percentage change  17.8%  12.9%  19.3% 12.8%  -10.4%  9.0% 12.3%  3.3%  6.0%  
 
(Billion dollars and percentage)    
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Article XII Members  Value  1,229  1,158  1,156 1,241 1,396 1,405 1,083 1,343  1,480  
Annual percentage change  10.8%  -5.8%  -0.1% 7.3% 12.5%  0.7% -22.9%  
24.0%   
10.2%  
World  Value  10,210 9,739 9,863 10,710 11,745 12,147 9,924 11,533  13,326  
Year-on-year percentage change  8.1%  -4.6%  1.3%  8.6% 9.7% 3.4.% -18.3%  
16.2%   
15.5%  
* From 2005 onwards, the commercial services values are compiled using a new services classification in the balance of payments  (BPM 6). Thus, figures are not directly 
comparable to those from earlier years.  
Source:  WTO Stats Portal (accessed in January 202 3). WT/ACC/ 45 • WT/GC/ 265 
 
- 39 - 
 
  ANNEX 8 – ACCESSIONS MANAGEMENT  
Accession Working Party Management  
Accession Working Party  Code  Secretary  Co-Secretary  Administrative 
Manager/Support  
1. Algeria  DZA Tvarusko  Al Wazzan  Tandara -Stenier  
2. Andorra  AND accessions@wto.org  - No Activity   
3. Azerbaijan  AZE Bratanov  
 Tvarusko   
 Wardak  
4. Bahamas  BHS Tvarusko  Miashiro  
 Tandara -Stenier  
5. Belarus  BLR Bratanov  Tvarusko  
 Wardak  
6. Bhutan*  BTN Rasulov  Miashiro  
 Wardak  
7. Bosnia and Herzegovina  BIH Varyanik  
 Tvarusko  Tandara -Stenier  
8. Comoros*  COM Bratanov  Tvarusko  
 Tandara -Stenier  
9. Curaçao  CUW Bratanov  Marchand  
 Tandara -Stenier  
10. Equatorial Guinea  GNQ Tvarusko  Marchand  
Perez -Esteve  Tandara -Stenier  
11. Ethiopia*  ETH Tvarusko  
 Varyanik  
Liwanda  Wardak  
12. Iran 
 IRN Varyanik  Al Lawati  Tandara -Stenier  
13. Iraq IRQ Hassan  Marchand  
Al Lawati  Wardak  
14. Lebanese Republic  LBN Hassan  
 Al Wazzan  Tandara -Stenier  
15. Libya  LBY Bratanov  
 Al Lawati   Wardak  
16. Sao Tome et Principe*  
 STP Pérez -Esteve  Miashiro  Wardak  
17. Serbia  
 SRB Varyanik  Tvarusko  Tandara -Stenier  
18. Somalia*  SOM Perez -Esteve  Tvarusko  
Liwanda  Wardak  
19. South Sudan*  SSD Perez -Esteve  Liwanda  Wardak  
20. Sudan*  SDN Hassan  Al Lawati  Tandara -Stenier  
21. Syrian Arab Republic  
 SYR Perez -Esteve  Al Wazzan  Wardak  
22. Timor -Leste*  
 TLS Varyanik  Miashiro  
 Wardak  
23. Turkmenistan  TKM Varyanik  Smirnova  
 Tandara -Stenier  
24. Uzbekistan  UZB Rasulov  
 Smirnova  
 Tandara -Stenier  
* Least developed countries (LDCs)  
 
ACCESSIONS STAFF DISPOSITION 20 23 
− Director;  
− Nine Professionals;  
− Two Administrative Managers; and  
− Four rotating interns under the WTO Accessions Internship Programme  
 
 
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