. /.   
WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/YEM/38 
16 July 2012 
 (12-3868) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
  
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Communication from Ukraine 
 
 The following communication, dated 16 July 2012, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Ukraine. 
 
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 The Delegation of Ukraine is deeply disappoi nted about the letter from Facilitators as of 
6 July 2012 and is concerned about the next m eeting of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Yemen to the WTO to be convened on 23 July 2012 and devoted to the discussion of bilateral 
negotiations between Ukraine and Yemen. 
 
 Ukraine is very mindful and attractive to every country that is in the WTO accession process.  
Ukraine uses flexible and pragmatic approach to bilateral negotiations on the basis of full recognition 
of the status of the least-developed countries an d has enough liberal approach to the level of 
commitments of countries acceding to the WTO.   
 
 We would like to underline that Ukraine agr eed to take part and actively cooperated in 
5 rounds on the facilitation of Yemen's WTO accession.   However, we believe that this process cannot be used as pressure on the sovereign right to 
conduct bilateral negotiations  with countries acceding to the WTO.   Ukraine believes that the third 
parties' efforts to use measures facilitating the conclusion of these negotiations establish a precedent 
of interference in individual bilatera l negotiations process within the WTO. 
  We would like to note that Ukraine successfully completed bilateral negotiations with the least-developed countries acceding to the WTO such as Samoa and Laos without outside influence. 
Ukraine is surprised to find out in the above-mentione d letter that the actions of only one party to be 
commented despite the fact that two parties are involved in bilateral nego tiations and are equally 
responsible for this process.   Definition of Yemen's inability for further tariff concessions is  unacceptable.  In this case, 
Chairmen of the relevant Committees or Working Pa rties violate the principle of neutrality, which 
they shall strictly adhere to.   Ukraine started bilateral goods Market Acce ss negotiations within Yemen's WTO Accession 
at the end of 2009.  Unfortunately, during 2011, ne gotiations were slowed down by Yemeni party.  
In general, both parties held five rounds of bilateral negotiations, 6 bilateral meetings and 
consultations and 14 exchanges of offers and request s.  We would like to emphasize that constructive 
negotiations between the Parties have begun only at the end of this May.  Ukraine expresses WT/ACC/YEM/38 
Page 2  
 
  appreciation to Yemen for the dialogue renewal and significant progress in negotiations. We would 
like to note that Yemen's Tariff Offer of 19 June 2012 is currently under consider ation of our relevant 
authorities for final decision to be taken in  accordance with the internal procedures. 
  Ukraine is seeking to get an explanation on th e following sentence from the letter mentioned:  
"It is also our firm conclusion that no further revi sed or improved offer should be reasonably expected 
from Yemen".  Ukraine considers it as a call (app eal) and encouraging Yemen to halt bilateral 
negotiations with Ukraine and open pressure on the WTO Member.   In this regard, Ukraine considers the proposal on next meeting of the Working Party on the 
Yemen's WTO Accession to be conven ed on 23 July 2012 inappropriat e before conclusion of bilateral 
negotiations with Ukraine.   
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