DUSHANBE, November 21, 2012, Asia-Plus — Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzoda on November 19 met here with a delegation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), led by Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Accessions Division, WTO Secretariat, according to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT).
The source at a MEDT says the WTO delegation arrived in Dushanbe last Monday on a three-day visit.
The sides reportedly discussed issues related to Tajikistan’s admission to the World Trade Organization.
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe is also scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon and similar issues are expected to be a major topic of the talks.
We will recall that last negotiations on Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization took place in Geneva in late October.
The World Trade Organization has announced that it would likely approve Tajikistan”s bid to join the WTO this December. The WTO said on October 29 that “all members” are expected to approve the documents that Tajikistan”s working group submitted for entry.
The decision is expected during a meeting of the WTO”s General Council on December 11-12.
Tajikistan vowed to undertake a series of commitments designed to meet all WTO regulations. Tajikistan has been attempting to join the WTO since 2001. If Tajikistan meets all the criteria and WTO members approve the country”s entry, Tajikistan should become a full member of the organization in 2013.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations whose goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. The organization has 157 members and 27 more governments, including Tajikistan, have applied to accede to the WTO, which are at different stages in the process.
