RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.1 
23 May 2006 
 (06-2481) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Provisional Legislative Action Plan  
 
Revision  
 
 The following submission, dated 12 May 2006, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Yemen.  
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  Yemen submits this Provisional Legislative Ac tion 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. 
 For transparency purposes, th e plan also contains action items that are currently under 
consideration but with respect to which a final decision on implementation has not yet been taken. 
However, this refers only to non-mandatory acti ons, i.e. the accession of Yemen to Berne and Paris 
conventions. 
 It should be noted that references to WT O Agreements do not necessarily reflect present non-
compliance with the respective agreements. 
 Separate Action Plans are submitted for TBT, SPS, and IPR.  A separate Work Programme would also be submitted on Customs Valuation.  
  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.1 
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. 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 the Decree for ratification  Up to 6 Months after 
WTO General Council / 
Ministerial conference 
approves 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. Draft prepared by Customs Authority and endorsed by Council of Ministers 
(April 2005).  
Draft law still at the House of Representatives.  
Issuance of a Presidential Decree.  
By-laws will be issued after ratif ication of the new Customs Law. 2007 
3. Law on Safeguards and  
Protection of Local Production against Unfair 
Trade Practices.  GATT, Anti-Dumping 
Agreement, SCM Agreement, Safeguards 
Agreement. Draft has been prepared by Ministry of Industry and Trade (2005). 
 Review by Ministry of Legal Affairs has been done.  
 
 Review and approval by Council of Ministers and submission to House of 
Representatives.  
 Issuance by a President Decree.  2007 
4. Decision on the 
establishment of a 
TBT/SPS Enquiry Points. Agreements on Technical 
Barriers to Trade and 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures.   Enquiry points shall be established by re spective Ministerial Decisions in accordance 
with TBT/SPS Action Plans. 
  Upon accession.  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.1
 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-
issue of provisions in Law 
No. 19 of 1994 on Intellectual Property 
relating to copyright and 
related rights). Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property 
Rights.  
 Review of current provisions on copyright and related rights and new draft law has 
been prepared.  
-  The above draft law has been sent to WIPO for consultation. 
-  Review of draft by Ministry of Legal Affairs. -  Review and endorsement by Council of Ministers and submission to the House 
of Representatives. 
-  Issuance of Pr esidential  Decree. 2008 
5. 
Protection of: 
 
- Trademarks and 
geographical 
indications;  
- Industrial designs; - Patents.  
(Revision of existing 
provisions in Law No. 19 of 1994 on Intellectual 
Property). 
 Protection of :  
- undisclosed 
information; 
- layout-designs of 
integrated circuits; 
- anti-competitive 
practices, in 
contractual licenses. 
   
 
The preparation of the and the review of  the following laws have taken place: 
- Draft law of Trademarks and Geographical Indications; 
 
- Draft law of Industrial Designs; - Review of current Patents provisions  and preparing a new draft law by the 
Ministry of Industry and Trade. 
  
 
  
- undisclosed information.  
 - layout-designs of integrated circuits. 
 
- anti-competitive practices, in contractual licenses.  
Draft to be prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.  
 
-  Consultation with WIPO. 
-  Review  by Ministry of Legal Affairs.  -  Review and endorsement by Council of Ministers.   
-  Approval by the Parliament. 
-  Issuance of Presidential Decree. 2008 
 
6. Accession to Berne 
Convention on the 
Protection of Literary and 
Artistic Works 1971. Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property 
Rights. -  Council of Ministers has agreed in pr inciple that Yemen would join the Berne. 
Convention (22 March 2006). 
-  Completion of constitutional procedures.  
 2007 
  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.1 
Page 4 No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intend ed Actions Expected Approval Date 
7. Possible Accession to the 
Paris Convention 1967. Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property 
Rights. -  Study the feasibility to join the Paris Convention by the Ministry of Industry 
and Trade (2006).  
 
 
-   Completion of constitutional procedur es, if results of study are positive.  2008 
8. Establishment of GATS 
Enquiry Point GATS Enquiry point to be established within the Ministry of Industry and Trade.  
Enquiry Point established and operational. Upon accession. 
9. External Trade, Internal 
Trade and Regulation of 
Agencies and Branches for 
Foreign Companies draft 
laws.  GATT Approved by the Cabinet in 19 October 2005. 
Completion of constitutional procedures of submitting it to the Parliament for 
approval and final ratification by the President. 
  2007 
10 Trade Names Draft Law 
Competition Prevention 
and Monopoly Prevention 
Law. GATT The two draft laws have been prepared and ready for submission to the Cabinet  
Completion of constitutional procedures of submitting it to the Parliament for 
approval and final ratification by the President. 
 2008 
 
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