A two-day seminar for representatives of key ministries and agencies as well as representatives of private sector of Tajikistan on the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade policy review mechanism is concluding in Dushanbe tomorrow.
Organized by the UNDP Trade Promotion Project in the framework of cooperation established with the Ministry of Economy of Turkey and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade under the umbrella of the South-South Cooperation (SSC), the training has reportedly focused on processes and procedures of the WTO trade policy review and experience of Turkey, which has successfully passed the Sixth Trade Policy Review this year.
On November 15, experts from the Ministry of Economy of Turkey shared Turkey’s experience in using the Trade Policy Review and protecting trade (anti-damping and compensation measures and subsidies).
Tomorrow, the training participants will discuss modeling of processing o Tajikistan’s passing the Trade Policy Review.
The purpose of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (“TPRM”) is to contribute to improved adherence by all Members to rules, disciplines and commitments made under the Multilateral Trade Agreements and, where applicable, the Plurilateral Trade Agreements, and hence to the smoother functioning of the multilateral trading system, by achieving greater transparency in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of Members. Accordingly, the review mechanism enables the regular collective appreciation and evaluation of the full range of individual Members’ trade policies and practices and their impact on the functioning of the multilateral trading system. It is not, however, intended to serve as a basis for the enforcement of specific obligations under the Agreements or for dispute settlement procedures, or to impose new policy commitments on Members.
The WTO approved Tajikistan’s accession in December 2012 and named March 2, 2013 as the official entry date. Tajikistan becomes the 159th member of the WTO and the second Central Asian country to be admitted. Kyrgyzstan became a WTO member in 1998.
