WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/L/934 
21 October 2010 
 (10-5486) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2010) OF THE WORKING PARTY ON 
STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
 
 
I. ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK OF THE WORKING PARTY 
1. The Working Party on State Trading Enterprises was established by the Council for Trade in 
Goods at its meeting of 20 February 1995, pursu ant to paragraph 5 of the Understanding on the 
Interpretation of Article XVII of the General Agre ement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter "the 
Understanding").  Membership of the Working Party is open to all Members indicating their wish to 
serve on it.  Observer governments in the General Council of the WTO have observer status in the 
Working Party.  During the period under review (16 October 2009 to 19 October 2010, i.e. the period 
of time between the regular, annual meetings of the Working Party), Ms Doris JURADO (Colombia) 
assumed the Chairpersonship of the Working Party from Mr. Haitao ZHU (China).  Ms JURADO was appointed Chair by the Council for Trade in Goods at its meeting on 23 March 2010.    
2. The mandate of the Working Party, as set out in paragraph 5 of the Understanding, is:  (i) to 
review notifications and counter-no tifications on state trading;  (ii) to review, in the light of the 
notifications received, the adequacy of the qu estionnaire on state trading (BISD 9S/184) and the 
coverage of state trading enterprises notified under paragraph 1 of the Unders tanding;  and (iii) to 
develop an illustrative list showing the kinds of relationships between governments and enterprises, 
and the kinds of activities engaged in by these enterp rises, which may be relevant for the purposes of 
Article XVII of the GATT 1994.  Regarding the revi ew of notifications, the Working Party having 
completed the mandated revision of the questionnair e on state trading, now reviews notifications 
in light of the questionnaire adopted on 2 April 1998 (G/STR/3) and revised on 14 November 2003 
(G/STR/3/Rev.1).  The notifications reviewed for th e current period are listed below in paragraph 9.  
Regarding the Illustrative List of State Tradi ng Relationships and Activities, the Working Party 
completed its mandate with the adoption of the Illu strative List by the Council for Trade in Goods on 
15 October 1999 (G/STR/4).   
3. This Report is submitted under para graph 5 of the Understanding.  It sets out the activities of 
the Working Party during the period under review.   
4. Participants in the Working Party's meetings to date are:  Argentina;  Australia;  Bangladesh;  
Barbados;  Brazil;  Brunei Darussalam;  Burundi;  Cana da;  Chile;  China;  Colombia;  Costa Rica;  
Cuba;  Dominican Republic, Ecuador;  Egypt;  El Salvador;  The European Union
1;  Guatemala;  
Haiti;  Honduras;  Hong Kong, China;  Iceland;  India;   Indonesia;  Israel;  Jamaica;  Japan;  Jordan;  
Kenya;  Korea;  Macao, China;  Malaysia;  Malta ;  Mauritius;  Mexico;  Morocco;  New Zealand;  
Nigeria; Norway;  Oman;  Pakistan;  Paraguay;  Peru;  Philippines;  the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;  
Singapore;  South Africa;  Switzerland;  Chinese Taipe i;  Thailand;  Trinidad and Tobago;  Tunisia;  
Turkey;  Ukraine;  United States;  Uruguay;  Venezuel a;  Vietnam;  Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Ethiopia;  
Iran;  Russian Federation and Sudan have participated as observers.  
                                                      
1 The European Union and its 27 Memb er States are counted as one.   G/L/934 
Page 2  
 
  5. Following the regular meeting held on 16 October 2009, the Working Party held one informal 
consultation and two regular meeti ngs during the period under review.  The informal consultation was 
held on 29 April 2010 and the regular  meetings were held  on 16 June 2010 and 19 October 2010.  The 
minutes of the regular meeting held on 16 June 2010 are circulated as G/STR/M/20.  The minutes of the regular meeting held on 19 October 2010 w ill be circulated in document G/STR/M/21.   
6. On 13 August 2010 the Chair of the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises received a 
letter from the Chairman of the Working Party on Trade and Transfer of Technology.  The letter requested the Chair of the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises to inform the Chair of the 
Working Party on Trade and Transfer of Technology of any discussions, submissions and/or other developments relating to trade and technology transfer  that may have taken place since the last report 
in 2002, or any information on work that is planned on trade and technology transfer.  The Chair of 
the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises responded that there had been no discussions, 
submissions, or other developments relating to trad e and technology transfer in the Working Party on 
State Trading Enterprises and there were  no plans for any such activity.   
7. The next regular meeting of the Working Party will be held on 20 October 2011.   
II. NOTIFICATION AND REVIEW OF MEMBERS' STATE TRADING ACTIVITIES 
8. Article XVII:4 of GATT 1994, and paragraph 1 of the Understanding require Members to 
notify their state trading enterprises to the Council for Trade in Goods.  New and full notifications 
were first required in 1995 and, subsequently, ever y third year thereafter, while updating notifications 
were to be made in the intervening years, i ndicating any changes since the last new and full 
notification.  On 11 November 2003, the Worki ng Party adopted the recommendation contained in 
document G/STR/5 regarding the frequency of notif ications.  The said recommendation, approved by 
the Council for Trade in Goods on 26 November 2003, modified the periodicity of state trading notifications so that new and full notifications on state trading were due every two years instead of 
every three years and the requirement of updati ng notifications in the intervening years was 
eliminated (i.e. the notification burden was re duced).  On 3 October 2008 the Working Party 
recommended to the Council for Trade in Goods that the application of the recommendation 
contained in G/STR/5 be extended for a further period  of two years.  A recommendation to that effect 
was subsequently circulated as G/STR/6.  Inform al consultations were held on 29 April 2010 to 
review the frequency of notifications and deci de whether to extend the application of the 
recommendation in G/STR/6 either as presently drafted or in a modified form, for a further period.  
The Working Party was not able to reach a co nclusion.  The Chair consulted with Members 
bilaterally, drafted a recommendation and circulated it for comments and then called a formal meeting 
on 16 June 2010.  The recommendation was adopted as G/STR/7.  Informal consultations will be held 
prior to 30 June 2012 to review the frequency of noti fications with a view to determining whether to 
extend the application of the recommendation in G/ST R/7, either as presently drafted or in a modified 
form, for a further period or for an indefinite period. 
9. In the period under review 22 updating notificatio ns and 49 new and full notifications were 
received.  The Working Party reviewed all of these notifications at its regular meeting on 19 October 2010, and also reviewed notifications from Albania;  the European Union;  Nigeria and Switzerland
2 previously submitted but not reviewed.  The notifications reviewed were as follows:  
The 2010 new and full notifications from Australia ;  Canada;  Chile;  Colombia;  Ecuador;  
El Salvador;  Grenada;  Honduras;  Hong Kong, Chin a;  Korea;  Macao, China;  Japan;  Namibia;  
Norway;  Qatar;  Singapore;  Switzerland;  Chinese Taipei;  Trinidad and Tobago;  Turkey;  Ukraine 
                                                      
2 G/STR/12/ALB;  G/STR/N/9/EEC/Suppl.1;  G/STR/ N/10/EEC/Suppl.1;  G/STR/N/11/EEC/Suppl.1;  
G/STR/N/12/NGA;  and G/STR/N/12/CHE.    G/L/934 
 Page 3 
 
 
and the United States;  the 2008 new and full notif ications from Albania;  Canada;  Ecuador;  
El Salvador;  Jamaica;  Korea;  Namibia;  Nigeria;  Norway;  Qatar;  Switzerland;  and Trinidad and Tobago;  the 2006 new and full notifications from Ecuador;  El Salvador;  the Supplement from the 
European Union;  India;  Korea;  Namibia and Norway;  the 2004 new and full notifications for Ecuador;  El Salvador;  the Supplement from the Eur opean Union;  India;  Malaysia;  Namibia and 
Norway;  the 2001 new and full notifications from Ecua dor;  El Salvador;  Malaysia;  and Namibia;  
the 1998 new and full notifications from Ecuador a nd Malaysia;  the 2003 updating notification from 
Ecuador;  El Salvador;  the supplement from the Eur opean Union;  India;  Malaysia;  Namibia and 
Norway;  the 2002 updating notification from Ecuador;  El Salvador;  India;  Malaysia;  Namibia and 
Norway;  the 2000 updating notification from Ecuado r and Malaysia;  the 1999 updating notification 
from Ecuador and Malaysia;  and the 1996 an d 1997 updating notifications from Ecuador;  
El Salvador and Malaysia.   
10. At the regular meeting of the Working Party, Australia posed written questions relating to 
India's updating notifications contained in docum ents G/STR/N/8/IND, G/STR/N/9/IND, and India's 
new and full notifications contained in doc uments G/STR/N/10/IND and G/STR/N/11/IND.
3  
Australia also directed follow up questions to Jap an concerning its notification submitted in document 
G/STR/N/12/JPN.4  Additionally, Australia circulated wr itten questions requesting India and Norway 
to inform the Working Party of when they expected to submit outstanding notifications, asking both India and Norway to provide written responses.
5   
11. During the period under review Japan submitte d written replies to questions from the 
United States on Japan's notification contained in document G/STR/N/12/JPN.6 
12. The Working Party adopted its Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods for the 
year 2010. 
III. COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION  
13. As of the date of 19 October 2010, 21 notifica tions (out of a possible 126 notifications) have 
been received for the 2010 notification period (G /STR/N/13) and 35 notif ications (out of a 
possible 126 notifications) for the 2008 notification period (G/STR/12).  More  detailed information 
with respect to the status of notifications since 1995 is set out in the table found attached  to this report 
(along with the Membership list of the WTO, also attached ). 
14. The Working Party held a workshop on 18 Octobe r 2010 in response to reactions by Members 
at the informal consultations on 29 April 2010 rega rding the frequency of notifications, and following 
bilateral consultations initiated by the Chair to hear from Members on the problems they were 
experiencing in complying with their notificatio n obligation (the agenda for the workshop is 
attached) .   
15. The workshop, initiated by th e Chair, included a presentation by the Secretariat on STEs 
generally and the notification obligation, and two pr esentations by Members (Australia and Chile) on 
their experiences in completing STE notifications.  The Chair set aside half a day for one-on-one 
technical assistance. 
                                                      
3 G/STR/Q1/IND/3.   
4 G/STR/Q1/JPN/10.   
5 G/STR/Q1/IND/3 and G/STR/Q1/NOR/7.   
6 See G/STR/Q1/JPN/11, circulated on 22 September 2010.    
  G/L/934 
Page 4 NOTIFICATIONS SUBMITTED BY WTO MEMBERS UNDER ARTICLE XVII:4(A)  
OF THE GATT 1994 AND PARAGRAPH 1 OF  THE UNDERSTANDING ON THE  
INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE XVII OF THE GATT 1994 
 
Status as of 19 October 20101 
  
Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Albania (ALB) * * * * * A    N N N  
Angola (AGO) * A             
Antigua and 
Barbuda (ATG) A             
Argentina 
(ARG) A N  N N N N N N N N N N  
Armenia 
(ARM) * * * * * * * * A N N N  
Australia 
(AUS) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
Bahrain (BHR) A   X X X        
Bangladesh 
(BGD) A             
Barbados 
(BRB) A X             
B e l i z e  ( B L Z )  A              
Benin (BEN) * A             
Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela (VEN) A X X X X X X X  
     
Bolivia (BOL) A    N N N       
Botswana 
(BWA) A N             
                                                      
1 "X" indicates that a notification has been made.   
  "N" indicates that a nil notification has been made.   
  "*" indicates that the country/c ustoms territory was not yet a Member of the WTO.   
  "A" indicates the year in which the WTO Agreement entered into force for that Member.   
  "§" indicates that the country  in question is currently a member of the European Union.   
   The shaded boxes indicate that the corresponding notificati on was submitted by the European Communities.  On 1 December 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty 
establishing the European Community (done at Lisbon, 13 December 2007) entered into force.  On 29 November 2009, the WTO receiv ed a Verbal Note (WT/L/779) from the Council of the European Union and the 
Commission of the European Communities stating that, by virtue of the Treaty of Lisbon, as of 1 December 2009, the European Uni on replaces and succeeds the European Community.     G/L/934
 Page 5Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Brazil (BRA) A X  X           
Brunei 
Darussalam 
(BRN) A        
     
Bulgaria 
(BGR)2§ N A     N N  N    
Burkina Faso 
(BFA) A             
B u r u n d i  ( B D I )  A       N        
Cambodia 
(KHM) * * * * * * * * * A    
Cameroon 
(CMR) A             
Canada (CAN) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
Cape Verde 
(CPV) * * * * * * * * * * * A  
Central African 
Republic (CAF) A        
     
Chad (TCD) * A  N N N N       
Chile (CHL) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
China (CHN) * * * * * * A X X X     
Colombia 
(COL) A X X  X   X X X X X X X 
Costa Rica 
(CRI) A X X X X X X X X      
Côte d'Ivoire 
(CIV) A X             
Croatia (HRV) * * * * * A  N N N N N  
C u b a  ( C U B )  A              
Cyprus 
(CYP)3§ A X      N N N     
Czech Republic 
(CZE)3 § A X N N N N N N N N N    
Democratic 
Republic of the Congo (COD) * * A      
     
                                                      
2 This Member became a European Commun ities' member State on 1 January 2007.  See also last sentence in footnote 1. 
3 This Member became a European Commun ities' member State on 1 May 2004.  See also last sentence in footnote 1.  
  G/L/934 
Page 6 Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
D j i b o u t i  ( D J I )  A              
Dominica 
(DMA) A   X X X        
Dominican 
Republic (DOM) A        
     
Ecuador (ECU) * AN N N N N N N N N N N N 
Egypt (EGY) A   N          
El Salvador 
(SLV) A N N N N N N N N N N N N N 
Estonia (EST)3 
§ * * * * A  N N N     
European 
Union (EEC) A X X X X X X X N N N N N  
Fiji (FJI) * A   X           
Former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
(MKD) * * * * * * * * A N    
Gabon (GAB) A             
Gambia (GMB) N A            
Georgia (GEO) * * * * * A N N      
Ghana (GHA) A      N   N    
Grenada 
(GRD) * A           X 
Guatemala 
(GTM) A N N N N N N N N      
Guinea, 
Republic of 
(GIN) A N      
N N N     
Guinea Bissau 
(GNB) A             
Guyana (GUY) A             
Haiti (HTI) N A N N N N N        
Honduras 
(HND) A N N N N N N N N N N N N N 
Hong Kong, 
China (HKG) A N N N N N N N N N N N N N 
Hungary 
(HUN)3§ A N N N N N N N N N       G/L/934
 Page 7Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Iceland (ISL) A X   X X         
India (IND) A X      X X X X X   
Indonesia 
(IDN) A X X  N   X X  X X X  
Israel (ISR) A X             
Jamaica (JAM) A X  X    N     X  
Japan (JPN) A X X X X   X   X X X X 
Jordan (JOR) * * * X X A X X X X     
K e n y a  ( K E N )  A           N    
Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia (SAU)
4 * * * * * * * * * * N N  
Korea, 
Republic of (KOR) A X X  
X   
X  
 X X X X 
Kuwait (KWT) A             
Kyrgyz 
Republic (KGZ) * * * A     
     
Latvia (LVA)3§ * * * X A X N N N N N    
L e s o t h o  ( L S O )  A              
Liechten-stein 
(LIE) A X X X X X X X X X X  X  
Lithuania 
(LTU)3§ * * * * * * A X       
Macao, China 
(MAC) A N N N N N N N N N N N N N 
Madagascar 
(MDG) A             
M a l a w i  ( M W I )  A              
Malaysia 
(MYS) A X X X X X X X X X X    
Maldives 
(MDV) A             
M a l i  ( M L I )  A              
Malta (MLT)3§ A X   X X X X X      
                                                      
4 Saudi Arabia became a Member of the WTO on 11 December 2005.  
  G/L/934 
Page 8 Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Mauritania 
(MRT) A             
Mauritius 
(MUS) A X X X     X      
Mexico (MEX) A N N N N N N        
Moldova 
(MDA) * * * * * * A N N N N N   
Mongolia 
(MNG) * * A N N N N       
Morocco 
(MAR) A X             
Mozam-bique 
(MOZ) A           N  
Myanmar 
(MYN) A             
Namibia 
(NAM) A X   X X X N N N N N N N 
Nepal (NPL) * * * * * * * * * A    
New Zealand 
(NZL) A X X X X X X X   X X X  
Nicaragua 
(NIC) A             
Niger (NER) * A             
Nigeria (NGA) A N N N N N N N N    N  
Norway (NOR) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
Oman (OMN) * * * * * A X  X     
Pakistan (PAK) A N  N N N N N N N     
Panama (PAN) * * A N N N N N N N    
Papua New 
Guinea (PNG) * A            
Paraguay 
(PRY) A   X           
Peru (PER) A X X X N N N N N N N    
Philippines 
(PHL) A X X  X X X X       
Poland 
(POL)3§ A X   N N N N N N     
Qatar (QAT) N A   N     N N N N   G/L/934
 Page 9Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Romania 
(ROU)2 § A N N N N N N N N N N N   
Rwanda 
(RWA) * A            
Saint Kitts & 
Nevis (KNA) * A            
Saint Lucia 
(LCA) A             
Saint Vincent 
& Grenadines 
(VCT) A   
X X X   
     
S e n e g a l  ( S E N )  A              
Sierra Leone 
(SLE) A             
Singapore 
(SGP) A N N N N N N   N N N N N 
Slovak 
Republic (SVK)
3§ A X X X X X N N N N     
Slovenia 
(SVN)3§ A X X X X X N N N N     
Solomon 
Islands (SLB) * A            
South Africa 
(ZAF) A X X X N N N N N      
Sri Lanka 
(LKA) A             
Suriname 
(SUR) A         N N N  
Swaziland 
(SWZ) A             
Switzerland 
(CHE) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
Separate 
Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (TPKM) * * * * * * * A X X X X X X 
Tanzania 
(TZA) A              
  G/L/934 
Page 10 Member New and Full 
Notification 
(1995) 
G/STR/N/1 Updating 
Notification 
(1996) 
G/STR/N/2 Updating 
Notification 
(1997) 
G/STR/N/3 New and Full 
Notification 
(1998) 
G/STR/N/4 Updating 
Notification 
(1999) 
G/STR/N/5 Updating 
Notification 
(2000) 
G/STR/N/6 New and Full 
Notification 
(2001) 
G/STR/N/7 Updating 
Notification 
(2002) 
G/STR/N/8 Updating 
Notification 
(2003) 
G/STR/N/9 New and Full 
Notification 
(2004) 
G/STR/N/10 New and Full 
Notification 
(2006) 
G/STR/N/11 New and Full 
Notification 
(2008) 
G/STR/N/12 New and Full 
Notification 
(2010) 
G/STR/N/13 
Thailand 
(THA) A X X X    X X X X X X  
T o g o  ( T G O )  A              
Tonga (TON)5 * * * * * * * * * * *   
Trinidad & 
Tobago (TTO) A   X      X X   
Tunisia (TUN) A X  X X X X X X X X    
Turkey (TUR) A X  X X X X X X   X X X 
Uganda (UGA) A   N N N    N    
Ukraine (UKR) * * * * * * * * * * * A X X 
United Arab 
Emirates (ARE) N A       
     
United States 
(USA) A X X X X X X X X X X X X X 
Uruguay 
(URY) A X  X           
Viet Nam 
(VNM)6 * * * * * * * * * * *   
Zambia (ZMB) A N   N N  N N N N N   
Zimbabwe 
(ZWE) A          N N  
Number of 
Notifying Members/ Total Number of Members
7 59/97 36/113 39/116 56/118 51/120 47/125 59/128 49/129 41/131 43/123 36/124 35/126 21/126 
 
                                                      
5 Tonga became a Member of the WTO on 27 July 2007.  
6 Viet Nam became a Member of the WTO on 11 January 2007. 
7 The numerator and denominator used for the years 1995-2003 refl ect the fact that, for each notif ication obligation, the Europe an Communities submitted a single notifi cation that covered all of its then 
15 member States.  As Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hunga ry, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and S lovenia became European Communities' member  States on 1 May 2004, they were counted 
separately in this table and not as part of the European Comm unities, for the period 1995-2003.  The numerator and the denomina tor used for the years 2004 and 2006 count the European Communities and its then 25 
member States as one;  while the numerator and the denominato r used for the year 2008 count the European Communities and its 27  member States as one.  The total number of Members of the World Trade Organization is 
currently 153.      G/L/934 
 Page 11 
 
 
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/INF/43/Rev.10 
18 July 2008 
 (08-3490) 
  
 
 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
 
Revision  
 
 Upon the accession of Cap Verde, on 23 July 2008, the number of Members of the World Trade 
Organization will have reached 153.  The following is the list of Members, together with the effective 
dates of their membership:  
Government
 Entry into Force / 
  Membership  
 Albania ....................................................................................................................... ........8 September 2000 
Angola ........................................................................................................................ ..... 23 November 1996 
Antigua and Barbuda ............................................................................................................ ..1 January 1995 
Argentina...................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Armenia........................................................................................................................ .........5 February 2003 
Australia ...................................................................................................................... ............1 January 1995 
Austria ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
Bahrain , Kingdom of........................................................................................................... ...1 January 1995 
Bangladesh ..................................................................................................................... .........1 January 1995 
Barbados....................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Belgium ........................................................................................................................ ...........1 January 1995 
Belize ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Benin ......................................................................................................................... .......22 February 1996 
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela..........................................................................................1 Jan uary 1995 
Bolivia ....................................................................................................................... ......12 September 1995 
Botswana ....................................................................................................................... .............31 May 1995 
Brazil ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Brunei Darussalam.............................................................................................................. ....1 January 1995 
Bulgaria ....................................................................................................................... ........1 December 1996 
Burkina Faso ................................................................................................................... .............3 June 1995 
Burundi ....................................................................................................................... .................23 July 1995 
Cambodia ....................................................................................................................... ...... 13 October 2004 
Cameroon ....................................................................................................................... ...13 December 1995 
Canada ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Cap Verde...................................................................................................................... ..............23 July 2008 
Central African Republic ....................................................................................................... ....31 May 1995 
Chad .......................................................................................................................... ....... 19 October 1996 
Chile ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
China ......................................................................................................................... .....11 December 2001 
Colombia ....................................................................................................................... ............30 April 1995 
Congo ......................................................................................................................... ...........27 March 1997 
Costa Rica ..................................................................................................................... ..........1 January 1995 
 G/L/934 
Page 12  
 
  Government
 Entry into Force / 
  Membership  
Côte d'Ivoire .................................................................................................................. ..........1 January 1995 
Croatia ....................................................................................................................... ...... 30 November 2000 
Cuba .......................................................................................................................... ............20 April 1995 
Cyprus ........................................................................................................................ ................30 July 1995 
Czech Republic ................................................................................................................. ......1 January 1995 
Democratic Republic of the Congo ........................................................................................1 Janua ry 1997 
Denmark ........................................................................................................................ ..........1 January 1995 
Djibouti ...................................................................................................................... .................31 May 1995 
Dominica ....................................................................................................................... ..........1 January 1995 
Dominican Republic ............................................................................................................. ....9 March 1995 
Ecuador ....................................................................................................................... ...........21 January 1996 
Egypt ......................................................................................................................... ..............30 June 1995 
El Salvador .................................................................................................................... ...............7 May 1995 
Estonia ....................................................................................................................... ...... 13 November 1999 
European Communities........................................................................................................... 1 January 1995 
Fiji .......................................................................................................................... ........14 January 1996 
Finland ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia .................................................................................4 April 2 003 
France ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Gabon ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
The Gambia..................................................................................................................... ..... 23 October 1996 
Georgia ....................................................................................................................... ................14 June 2000 
Germany ........................................................................................................................ ..........1 January 1995 
Ghana ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Greece ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Grenada ........................................................................................................................ .......22 February 1996 
Guatemala...................................................................................................................... ..............21 July 1995 
Guinea ........................................................................................................................ ......... 25 October 1995 
Guinea Bissau.................................................................................................................. ...........31 May 1995 
Guyana ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Haiti ......................................................................................................................... .........30 January 1996 
Honduras ....................................................................................................................... ..........1 January 1995 
Hong Kong, China ............................................................................................................... ...1 January 1995 
Hungary........................................................................................................................ ...........1 January 1995 
Iceland ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
India ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Indonesia ...................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Ireland ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
Israel ........................................................................................................................ ..............21 April 1995 
Italy ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Jamaica ....................................................................................................................... ...............9 March 1995 
Japan ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Jordan ........................................................................................................................ ..............11 April 2000 
Kenya ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Korea, Republic of ............................................................................................................. .....1 January 1995 
Kuwait ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Kyrgyz Republic ...............................................................................................................2 0 December 1998 
Latvia ........................................................................................................................ ........10 February 1999 
Lesotho ....................................................................................................................... ................31 May 1995 
Liechtenstein .................................................................................................................. ....1 September 1995 
Lithuania...................................................................................................................... ...............31 May 2001  G/L/934 
 Page 13 
 
 
Government  Entry into Force / 
  Membership  
Luxembourg ..................................................................................................................... .......1 January 1995 
Macao, China ................................................................................................................... .......1 January 1995 
Madagascar ..................................................................................................................... . 17 November 1995 
Malawi ........................................................................................................................ ...............31 May 1995 
Malaysia ....................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Maldives ....................................................................................................................... ..............31 May 1995 
Mali .......................................................................................................................... .............31 May 1995 
Malta ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Mauritania ..................................................................................................................... .............31 May 1995 
Mauritius ...................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Mexico ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Moldova ........................................................................................................................ ..............26 July 2001 
Mongolia ....................................................................................................................... ........29 January 1997 
Morocco ........................................................................................................................ ..........1 January 1995 
Mozambique..................................................................................................................... ......26 August 1995 
Myanmar ........................................................................................................................ .........1 January 1995 
Namibia ........................................................................................................................ ...........1 January 1995 
Nepal ......................................................................................................................... .............23 April 2004 
Netherlands -  For the Kingdom ............................................................................................1 Ja nuary 1995 
  in Europe and for the  
  Netherlands Antilles New Zealand .................................................................................................................... .......1 January 1995 
Nicaragua ...................................................................................................................... .....3 September 1995 
Niger ......................................................................................................................... .....13 December 1996 
Nigeria ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
Norway ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Oman .......................................................................................................................... ..... 9 November 2000 
Pakistan ....................................................................................................................... ............1 January 1995 
Panama ........................................................................................................................ .......6 September 1997 
Papua New Guinea............................................................................................................... ........9 June 1996 
Paraguay ....................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Peru .......................................................................................................................... ..........1 January 1995 
Philippines.................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Poland ........................................................................................................................ ..................1 July 1995 
Portugal ....................................................................................................................... ............1 January 1995 
Qatar ......................................................................................................................... .........13 January 1996 
Romania ........................................................................................................................ ..........1 January 1995 
Rwanda ........................................................................................................................ ...............22 May 1996 
Saint Kitts and Nevis .......................................................................................................... 21 February 1996 
Saint Lucia.................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ..........................................................................................1 Jan uary 1995 
Saudi Arabia................................................................................................................... ...11 December 2005 
Senegal ....................................................................................................................... .............1 January 1995 
Sierra Leone ................................................................................................................... .............23 July 1995 
Singapore...................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Slovak Republic ................................................................................................................ ......1 January 1995 
Slovenia....................................................................................................................... ................30 July 1995 
Solomon Islands................................................................................................................ ..........26 July 1996 
South Africa ................................................................................................................... .........1 January 1995 
Spain ......................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Sri Lanka ...................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 G/L/934 
Page 14  
 
  Government
 Entry into Force / 
  Membership  
Suriname....................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Swaziland ...................................................................................................................... ..........1 January 1995 
Sweden ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Switzerland.................................................................................................................... ................1 July 1995 
Chinese Taipei................................................................................................................. ....... 1 January 2002 
Tanzania ....................................................................................................................... ...........1 January 1995 
Thailand....................................................................................................................... ............1 January 1995 
Togo .......................................................................................................................... .............31 May 1995 
Tonga ......................................................................................................................... ...............27 July 2007 
Trinidad and Tobago............................................................................................................ .....1 March 1995 
Tunisia ....................................................................................................................... .............29 March 1995 
Turkey ........................................................................................................................ ............26 March 1995 
Uganda ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Ukraine ....................................................................................................................... ................16 May 2008 
United Arab  Emirates ........................................................................................................... ....10 April 1996 
United Kingdom................................................................................................................. .....1 January 1995 
United States of America....................................................................................................... .1 January 1995 
Uruguay........................................................................................................................ ...........1 January 1995 
Viet Nam ....................................................................................................................... ........11 January 2007 
Zambia ........................................................................................................................ ............1 January 1995 
Zimbabwe....................................................................................................................... ...........5 March 1995 
   
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  G/L/934 
 Page 15 
 
 
WORKING PARTY ON STAT E TRADING ENTERPRISES 
 
Workshop 
 
Monday, 18 October 2010 
10 a.m., Room D 
 
Presentations 
 
10 a.m. – 11 a.m: 
 
Presentation by the Secretariat on the notification obligation to the Working Party on State Trading 
Enterprises. 
Jo McKeagg 
WTO Secretariat 
 
 
11 a.m. – 11.45 a.m: 
 Presentation and Q&A on Australia's experience in STE notifications. 
Ken Gordon 
First Secretary 
 
 
11.45 a.m. – midday: 
 
Coffee break  
 
12 p.m. – 12.45 p.m: 
 
Presentation and Q&A on Chile's experience in STE notifications. 
Christian Fresard 
Counsellor 
 
* * * * * * * * * *  
 
Technical assistance:  Room 1111 
 2.30 p.m. – 5 p.m:  
 
One-on-one technical assistance with  the Chair and the Secretariat.  Please contact Hilary Budd to 
make an appointment:  hilary.budd@wto.org.   
 
__________