RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.3 
20 May 2008 
 
 (08-2311) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Provisional Legislative Action Plan  
 
Revision  
 
 The following submission, dated 11 May 2008, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Yemen.  
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Agenda for Yemen's Law-Making Process for WTO Conformity
 
 
 Yemen submits this Provisional Legislative Ac tion Plan as part of its endeavour to provide 
for maximum transparency in its process of ac cession to the WTO.  Yemen reserves the right, 
however, to amend this Plan from time to time to  reflect progress and, if necessary, new issues. 
  This Plan should serve as a basis for discussion and should not be understood to create firm commitments.  The envisaged timelines are at present tentative and subject to confirmation. 
 
 It should be noted that references to WT O Agreements do not necessarily reflect present non-
compliance with the respective agreements.  
 
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  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.3 
Page 2 Provisional Legislative Action Plan  
 
(Agenda for Yemen's Law-Making Process for WTO Conformity) 
 
No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intend ed Actions Expected Approval Date 
1. Instrument of Ratification 
of  accession to WTO. Marrakech Agreement 
Establishing WTO 1994 - As soon as Yemen’s Protocol of Accession is approved by WTO, the 
Council of Ministers will submit it to  the House of Representatives for 
approval. 
- The President issues th e Decree for Ratification. Up to 6 months after the 
WTO  approval of Yemen’s 
Protocol of Accession 
2. Customs Law (re-issue of 
Law No. 14 of 1990 on 
Customs, with amendments). General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade - The Government withdrew the Customs Draft Law from Parliament and 
a draft amendment to  the current law has been prepared. 
- Draft amendment has been presented to the Cabinet. - A committee from the Council of Mini sters has been formed to review 
the draft amendment.* 
- Approval by the Cabinet. - Review and approval by the Parliament. 
- Issuance by the President. 2008 
3. Law on Protection of 
Local Production against 
Unfair Trade Practices. GATT, Anti-Dumping 
Agreement, SCM 
Agreement, Safeguards 
Agreement - A committee has been formed at the Ministry of Industry and Trade to 
review the draft law in consulta tion with concerned authorities.* 
- Review by the Ministry of Legal Affairs. 
- Approval by the Council of Ministers. - Review and approval by the Parliament. 
- Issuance by the President. 2009 
4. Decision on the 
establishment of TBT/SPS Enquiry Points. Agreements on Technical 
Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures - A Decree has been issued to set up an Enquiry Point for (TBT) as well 
as another Enquiry Point for (SPS). 
- SPS Enquiry Point has been established and is currently operational.* 
- TBT Enquiry Point is currently under establishment. Upon accession  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.3
 Page 3No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intend ed Actions Expected Approval Date 
Law on the Protection of 
Copyright and Related Rights (Revision and re-
issuing of provisions in 
Law No. 19 of 1994 on Intellectual Property 
Rights relating to 
copyright and related rights). TRIPS Agreement - Review of current provisions on copyright and related rights conducted 
and new draft law has been prepared. 
 
 - The above draft law has been sent to WIPO for consultation; 
 - Draft Reviewed by Ministry of Legal Affairs;  - Approved by the Council of Ministers on February 2008; 
 - Review and approval by the Parliament;* and 
 - Issuance by the President. 2008 
Protection of : 
- Trademarks and 
geographical indications; 
- Industrial designs; 
and  - The preparation and the review of the following have taken place: 
 
 - Draft Law on Trademarks and Geographical Indications; and  - Draft Law on Industrial Designs. 
 
- A committee has been formed at Ministry of Industry and Trade to 
review the draft laws in consu ltation with concerned authorities.* 
- Review  by the Ministry of Legal Affairs. 
- Approval by the Council of Ministers. 
- Review and approval by the Parliament. 
- Issuance by the President. 2009 5. 
- Patents. 
 (Revision of existing 
provisions in 
Law No. 19 of 1994 on Intellectual 
Property Rights). 
 Protection of: 
 
- Undisclosed 
information; 
- Layout-designs of 
integrated circuits; and 
- Anti-competitive 
practices in contractual licenses.  - Review of current patent protection provisions by the Ministry of 
Industry and Trade. 
- Draft Law is being prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.* 
- Consultation with WIPO. - Review by the Ministry of Legal Affairs. 
- Approval by the Council of Ministers. 
- Review and approval by the Parliament. - Issuance by the President. 2010  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.3 
Page 4 No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intend ed Actions Expected Approval Date 
6. Accession to the Berne 
Convention on the Protection of Literary and 
Artistic Works 1971 TRIPS Agreement - Approved by the Parliament on 5 June 2007. 
- Approved by the President on 3 July 2007. - Accession procedures are being finalized.* 2008 
7. Accession to the Paris 
Convention of 1967 TRIPS Agreement - Yemen has become a member to Paris Convention on 
15 November 2006.* 20081 
8. Internal Trade Law GATT - Approved by the Parliament in November 2007. 
- Approved by the President in March 2007. 
- The Law is in force.* 2007 
9. External Trade Law GATT - Approved by the Parliament in July 2007. 
- Approved by the President in July 2007. - The Law is in force.* 2007 
10. Plant Quarantine and 
Phytosanitary Measures 
Law SPS Agreement - Draft has been prepar ed by Ministry of Agriculture. 
- Review of draft by the relevant authorities.* 
- Review of draft by Ministry of Legal Affairs. 
- Approval by the Cabinet. 
- Review and approval by the Parliament. - Issuance by the President. 2008 
11. Arbitration Law Dispute Settlement 
Understanding - Draft Law has been prepared by the Ministry of Judiciary. 
- Approved by the Cabinet in July 2007. 
- Approval by the Parliament.* - Issuance by the President. 2009 
12. Law on Bids, Tenders, 
and Government 
Warehouses Government Procurement - Approved by the Parliament in July 2007. 
- Approved by the President in August 2008. 
- The Law is in force.* 2008 
* Denotes the current status. 
 
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1 Achieved in November 2006, before the targeted date.