WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/L/971 
31 October 2011 
 (11-5473) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2011) 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 ( 19 October 2010 to 27 October 2011, i.e. the period 
of time between the regular, annual meetings of th e Working Party), Mr Christian FRESARD (Chile) 
assumed the Chairpersonship of the Working Pa rty from Ms Doris JURADO (Colombia).  
Mr FRESARD was appointed Chair by the Council for Trade in Goods at its meeting on 21 March 2011. 
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 questionnaire 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 8.  
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:  Angola;  Argentina;  Australia;  
Bahrain, Kingdom of;  Bangladesh;  Barbados;  Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;  Brazil;  
Brunei Darussalam;  Burundi;  Canada;  Chile;  China;  Colombia;  Costa Rica;  Cuba;  
Dominican Republic, Ecuador;  Egypt;  El Salvador;  European Union
1;  Guatemala;  Haiti;  
Honduras;  Hong Kong, China;  Iceland;  India;  Indonesi a;  Israel;  Jamaica;  Japan;  Jordan;  Kenya;  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;  Korea;  Macao, China;   Malaysia;  Mauritius;  Mexico;  Morocco;  
New Zealand;  Nigeria;  Norway;  Oman;  Pakist an;  Paraguay;  Peru;  Philippines;  Singapore;  
South Africa;  Switzerland;  Chinese Taipei;  Thaila nd;  Trinidad and Tobago;  Tunisia;  Turkey;  
                                                      
1 The European Union and its 27 Memb er States are counted as one.   G/L/971 
Page 2  
 
  Ukraine;  United States;  Uruguay;  Viet Nam;  Zambia;  and Zimbabwe.  Ethiopia;  Iran;  Russian 
Federation;  and Sudan have participated as observers.  
5. Following the regular meeting held on 19 Octobe r 2010, the Working Party held one regular 
meeting during the period under review.  The regul ar meeting was held on 27 October 2011, and its 
minutes will be circulated in document G/STR/M/22.   
6. The next regular meeting of the Working Party is scheduled for 2012.   
II. NOTIFICATION AND REVIEW OF MEMBERS' STATE TRADING ACTIVITIES 
7. 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. 
8. In the period under review 7 updating notifica tions and 11 new and full notifications were 
received.  The Working Party reviewed all of these notifications at its regular meeting on 27 October 2011, and also reviewed a new and full notification from Japan
2 previously submitted and 
reviewed, but placed again on the agenda at the re quest of Australia, due to the short timeframe 
between the circulation of Japan's notification a nd the October 2010 meeting of the Working Party.  
The notifications reviewed were as follo ws:  the 2010 new and full notifications from 
Bahrain, Kingdom of;  Egypt;  Japan;  Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia;  Moldova;  New Zealand and 
Nigeria;  the 2008 new and full notifications from Ba hrain, Kingdom of and Moldova;  the 2006, 2004 
and 2001 new and full notifications from Bahrai n, Kingdom of;  the 2003 and 2002 updating 
notifications from Bahrain and Korea;  and th e 2000, 1999 and 1997 updating notifications from 
Korea.   
9. At the regular meeting of the Working Party, Australia and the European Union posed written 
questions relating to Japan's new and full no tification submitted in document G/STR/N/13/JPN3;  the 
European Union posed written questions relati ng to New Zealand's new and full notification 
submitted in document G/STR/N/13/NZL4;  and Australia posed written questions relating to Korea's 
                                                      
2 G/STR/N/13/JPN. 
3 G/STR/Q1/JPN/15 and G/STR/Q1/JPN/16. 
4 G/STR/Q1/NZL/6.  G/L/971 
 Page 3 
 
 
  updating notifications submitted in doc uments G/STR/N/3/KOR, G/STR/N/5/KOR, 
G/STR/N/6/KOR, G/STR/N/8/KOR, and G/STR/N/9/KOR.5  Additionally, Australia circulated 
written questions requesting China and Brazil to inform  the Working Party of when they expected to 
submit outstanding notifications, asking both Brazil and China to provide written responses.6     
10. The Working Party adopted its Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods for the 
year 2011. 
III. COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION  
11. As of 27 October 2011, 28 notifications (out  of a possible 126 notifications) have been 
received for the 2010 notification period (G/STR/N /13) and 38 notifications (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).   
________________ 
                                                      
5 G/STR/Q1/KOR/11. 
6 G/STR/Q1/BRA/7 and G/STR/Q1/CHN/1.  
  G/L/971 
Page 4  
Table 1 
 
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 27 October 20117 
 
 
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, 
Kingdom 
of (BHR) A   
X X X N N N N N N N 
Bangladesh 
(BGD) A             
Barbados 
(BRB) A X             
                                                      
7 "X" indicates that a notification has been made.   
  "N" indicates that a nil notification has been made.   
  "*" indicates that the country/customs territory was not yet a Member of the WTO.   
  "A" indicates the year in which the WTO Agr eement 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 co rresponding notification was submitted by the European Union (formerly the EC).  For N1 3 the shaded box indicates that the corresponding notification 
was the obligation of the European Union.    
   G/L/971
 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 
Belize 
(BLZ) A             
Benin 
(BEN) * A            
Bolivarian 
Republic of 
Venezuela (VEN) A X X X X X X X  
     
Plurinational  
State of 
Bolivia 
(BOL) A    
N N N  
     
Botswana 
(BWA) A N             
Brazil 
(BRA) A X  X           
Brunei 
Darussalam 
(BRN) A        
     
Bulgaria 
(BGR)8§ N A     N N  N    
Burkina 
Faso (BFA) A             
Burundi 
(BDI) 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        
     
                                                      
8 This Member became a member State of the European Union on 1 January 2007.  See also last sentence in footnote 1.  
  G/L/971 
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 
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  
Cuba 
(CUB) A             
Cyprus 
(CYP)9§ 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      
     
Djibouti 
(DJI) 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 
                                                      
9 This Member became a member State of the European Un ion on 1 May 2004.  See also last sentence in footnote 1.  
   G/L/971
 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 
Egypt 
(EGY) A   N         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  
(EU) 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  
  G/L/971 
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 
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     
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     
Kenya 
(KEN) A          N    
Kingdom 
of Saudi 
Arabia 
(SAU)10 * * * * * * * * * * N N N 
Korea, 
Republic of (KOR) A X X X X X 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    
Lesotho 
(LSO) A             
                                                      
10 Saudi Arabia became a Member of the WTO on 11 December 2005.  
   G/L/971
 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 
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             
Malawi 
(MWI) 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      
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 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  
  G/L/971 
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 
Nepal 
(NPL) * * * * * * * * * A    
New 
Zealand 
(NZL) A X 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 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 
Romania 
(ROU)2 § A N N N N N N N N N N N   
Rwanda 
(RWA) * A            
Saint Kitts 
& Nevis 
(KNA) * A       
      
   G/L/971
 Page 11Member 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 
Saint Lucia 
(LCA) A             
Saint 
Vincent & 
Grenadines (VCT) A   
X X X   
     
Senegal 
(SEN) 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  
  G/L/971 
Page 12 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 
Separate 
Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu 
(TPKM) * * * * * * * A X X X X X X 
Tanzania 
(TZA) A             
Thailand 
(THA) A X X X    X X X X X X  
Togo 
(TGO) A             
Tonga 
(TON)11 * * * * * * * * * * *   
Trinidad & 
Tobago 
(TTO) A   
X     
 X 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           
                                                      
11 Tonga became a Member of the WTO on 27 July 2007.    
   G/L/971
 Page 13Member 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 
Viet Nam 
(VNM)12 * * * * * * * * * * *   
Zambia 
(ZMB) A N   N N  N N N N N   
Zimbabwe 
(ZWE) A          N  N  
Number of  
Notifying 
Members/
Total Number of 
Members
13 59/97 36/113 40/116 56/118 51/120 48/1 25 60/128 51/129 43/131 44/123 37/124 38/126 28/126 
 
 
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12 Viet Nam became a Member of the WTO on 11 January 2007. 
13 The numerator and denominator used for the years 1995-2003 reflec t the fact that, for each notif ication obligation, the Europe an Union (formerly the EC) s ubmitted a singl e notification 
that covered all of its then 15 member St ates.  As Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latv ia, Lithuania, Malta, Pola nd, the Slovak Republic and Sloveni a became member States of the 
European Union on 1 May 2004, they were counted separately in this  table and not as part of the European Union, for the period 1995-2003.  The numerator and th e denominator used for the 
years 2004 and 2006 count the European Union and its then 25 member  States as one;  while the numerator and the denominator use d for the year 2008 count the European Union and its 27 member 
States as one.  The total number of Members of th e World Trade Organization is currently 153.     G/L/971 
Page 14  
 
  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/INF/43/Rev.10 
18 July 2008 
 (08-3490) 
  
 
 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
 
Revision 
 
  Upon the accession of Cape 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 J anuary 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 
Cape Verde .................................................................................................................... .............. 23 July 2008 
Central Africa n 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/971 
 Page 15 
 
 
  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 Jan uary 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  2003 
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 ...............................................................................................................  20 December 1998 
Latvia  ....................................................................................................................... ......... 10 February 1999 
Lesotho  ...................................................................................................................... ................. 31 May 1995 
Liechtenstein ................................................................................................................. ..... 1 September 1995 
Lithuania ..................................................................................................................... ................ 31 May 2001 G/L/971 
Page 16  
 
  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 January 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 J anuary 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 A frica .................................................................................................................. .......... 1 January 1995 
Spain  ........................................................................................................................ ............ 1 January 1995 
Sri Lanka ..................................................................................................................... ............ 1 January 1995  G/L/971 
 Page 17 
 
 
  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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