DUSHANBE, December 10, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is expected to become full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) today.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is currently in Geneva, is participating in a meeting of the WTO’s General Council on accession of Tajikistan that is taking place in Geneva today, the Tajik president’s official website reports.
Tajikistan’s accession to the WTO cleared a major hurdle on October 26, 2012 when the Working Party on its accession, chaired by Ambassador Clyde Kull (Estonia), approved, ad referendum, the package containing reforms to Tajikistan’s trade regime, market access schedules on goods and services, the Ministerial Decision and the Protocol of Accession.
The Working Party has sent its accession recommendation to the WTO General Council that is meeting on accession of Tajikistan today and all members are expected to approve these documents and accept Tajikistan as a WTO member. Tajikistan will become the 58th member of the World Trade Organization.
Tajik leader is also expected to hold talks with Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
Tajikistan applied for WTO membership on 29 May 2001.
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 now has 157 members and 27 more governments, including Tajikistan, have applied to accede to the WTO, which are at different stages in the process.
