RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6 
8 November 2010 
 (10-5936) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Provisional Legislative Action Plan  
 
Revision  
   The following submission, dated 31 October 2010, 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 Action Plan as part of its endeavour to provide 
for maximum transparency in its process of accession 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 pr esent tentative and subject to confirmation. 
It should be noted that references to WTO Agreements do not necessarily reflect present non-
compliance with the  respective agreements.  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6 
Page 2 No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
1. Instrument of 
Ratification of  Accession to WTO  Marrakech 
Agreement Establishing 
WTO 1994 − Yemen's Protocol of Accession is to be approved by WTO; 
− Approval by the Council of Ministers; 
− Review and approval by the Parliament; 
− The President issues the Decree for Ratification. Up to 6 months after the WTO 
approval of Yemen's Protocol of 
Accession 
2. Amendments to Law 
No. 14 of 1990 on Customs, with 
amendments General 
Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade(GATT) − The amended law has been approved by the President in September 2010. 2010 
3. New Investment Law  Trade Related 
Investment 
Measures 
Agreement − The new law has been approved by the President in September 2010. 2010 
4. Law on Protection of 
Local Production against 
Unfair Trade Practices GATT, Anti-
Dumping 
Agreement, 
SCM Agreement, 
Safeguards 
Agreement − The draft law has been approved by the Council of Ministers on 3 February 2009; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
5. 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 En quiry Point for (SPS) at the Ministry of 
Agriculture and is currently operational; 
− A decree has been issued to set up an Enquiry Point for (TBT).  It is currently under 
establishment at the Yemen Standardization, Metrology and Quality Organization(YSMO). 2009 
6. Draft law on the 
Protection of Copyright 
and Related Rights: 
(Revision of existing 
provisions in Law No. 19 
of 1994 on Intellectual Property Rights relating 
to copyright and related 
rights) Trade-Related 
Aspects of 
Intellectual 
Property 
(TRIPS) − The draft law on the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights has been prepared; 
− The draft law has been sent to WIPO for consultation; 
− The draft law has been  reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs; 
− The draft law has been approved by the Council of Ministers in February, 2008; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6
 Page 3No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
7. Draft laws on the 
protection of Industrial Property: 
 
− Trademarks and 
geographical 
indications 
− Industrial designs 
− Patents 
− Undisclosed 
information 
− Layout-designs of 
integrated circuits 
− Control of anti-
competitive 
practices in contractual licenses 
 
(Revision of existing provisions in Law No. 19 
of 1994 on Intellectual 
Property Rights relating to industrial property) Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual 
Property 
(TRIPS) − The draft laws on the Protection of Industrial Property have been prepared; 
− The draft laws have been sent to WIPO for consultation; 
− (The Trademarks and Geographical Indi cations), (Patents and Utility Models, 
Integrated Circuits and Undisclosed Information), and (Industrial Designs) draft laws 
have been reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010.  The draft laws have been submitted to the Council of Ministers on 10 July 2010; 
− Approved by the Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft laws currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
8. Membership to the Berne 
Convention for the 
Protection of Literary 
and Artistic Works 
(1971) Trade-Related 
Aspects of 
Intellectual 
Property 
(TRIPS) − Yemen has been a member to the Berne Conv ention for the Protection of Literary and 
Artistic Works (1971) since 14 April 2008. 2007 
9. Membership to the Paris 
Convention for the 
Protection of Industrial 
Property (1967) Trade-Related 
Aspects of 
Intellectual 
Property (TRIPS) − Yemen has been a member to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial 
Property (1967) since 15 November 2006. 2008 
10. Internal Trade Law GATT − The law has been approved by the President on 28 March 2007.  The law is in force. 2007 
11. External Trade Law GATT − The law has been approved by the President on 24 July 2007.  The law is in force. 2007  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6 
Page 4 No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
12. Plant Quarantine and 
Phytosanitary Measures Draft Law SPS Agreement − The draft law on Plant Quarantine and Phyt osanitary Measures has been prepared; 
− The draft law has been reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010.  The 
draft law has been submitted to the Council of Ministers on 10 July 2010; 
− Approved by the Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
13. Arbitration Draft Law Dispute 
Settlement Understanding   − The draft law has been approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2007; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
14. Law on Bids, Tenders, 
and Government 
Warehouses Government 
Procurement  − The law has been approved by the President on 14 August 2007.  The law is in force. 2008 
15. Regulations related to 
implementing Trading 
Rights commitments GATT Articles 
(III,XI) − Drafting necessary amendments and new le gislations related to Trading Rights; 
− Review by the Ministry of Legal Affairs; 
− Approval by Council of Ministers; 
− Review and approval by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2012 
16. Regulations related to 
subsidies SCM and 
TRIMs − Drafting necessary amendments to legisla tions containing prohibited subsidies; 
− Review by the Ministry of Legal Affairs; 
− Approval by Council of Ministers; 
− Review and approval by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2014 
 
   
  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6
 Page 5The following group of legislation has been finalized as one packag e, and were reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs during  June 2010.  They were 
submitted to the Council of Ministries on the 10 July 2010.  They were discussed and approved by the Council of Ministers on 20  July 2010 and are currently 
being reviewed by the Parliament. 
No. Laws/Regulations/Administrative Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected 
Approval Date 
1. Draft amendment to Law No. 17 of 2004 on Protection and 
Organization of Animal Wealth SPS − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
2. Draft amendment to Law No. 25 of 1999 on Organizing the 
Circulation of Pesticides SPS − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
3. Draft amendment to Law No. 2 of 2006 on Regulation of 
fishing and Exploitation of Marine Life Article VIII of 
GATT − Approved by the Ministry of legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
4. Draft amendment to Labor Law No. 5 of 1995 GATS − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
5. Draft amendment to Law No. 33 of 1991 on Commercial 
Registration GATT − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
6. Draft amendment to Articles 5 and 6 of Law No. 41 
of 2005 on Customs Tariffs  Article VII of 
GATT − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
7. Draft amendment to Article 53 of Law No. 40 of 1992 on 
Regulation of Carrying and Trading in Arms and 
Ammunitions Article VIII of 
GATT − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Parliament; 
− Issuance by the President. 2010 
8. Draft amendment to Republican  Decree No. 49 of 1993 on 
the Implementing Regulation of Law No. 25 of 1990 on Press and Publication Law Article VIII of 
GATT − The Decision to amend the Regulation has been approved by the 
Prime Minister in October 2010. 2010 
9. Draft amendment to Prime Minister's Decision No. 333 
of 2004 on Regulation for Manufacturing and Trading in 
Drugs and Medical Appliances Article VIII of 
GATT − The Decision to amend the Regulation has been approved by the 
Prime Minister on 6 September 2010. 2010  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.6 
Page 6 No. Laws/Regulations/Administrative Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected 
Approval Date 
10. Draft amendment to the D ecision of the Minister of 
Information No. 9 of 1998 on the Financial Regulation of the Press and Publication Law Article VIII of 
GATT − The Decision to amend the Regulation has been approved by the 
Minister of Information on 30 August 2010. 2010 
11. Draft amendment to Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation's 
Decision No. 10 of 2002 on the Implementing Regulation 
of Law No. 25 of 1999 on Organizing and Circulation of Pesticides SPS − The Decision to amend the Regulation has been approved by the 
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation on 25 August 2010. 2010 
12. Draft amendment to the D ecision of the Minister of 
Finance No. 399 of 2002 on Fees for Special and Real 
Warehouses Article VIII of 
GATT − The amendment to the Decision of the Minister of Finance 
No. 339 of 2002 on Fees for Special and Real Warehouses has 
been approved by the Minister on 12 September 2010. 2010 
13. Prime Minister's Draft Decr ee on Executive Regulation of 
the Implementation of the Customs Law Article VII of 
GATT − Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in June 2010; 
− Approved by Council of Ministers on 20 July 2010; 
− Issuance of the Regulation by the Prime Minister. 2011 
 
 
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