Mr Mustafa Benbada, Minister of Trade, reiterated Algeria’s commitment to bring its trade regime into compliance with WTO rules and outlined recent legislative changes contained in the revised Legislative Action Plan. The information provided by Algeria “reinvigorates its membership negotiations and provides a basis for moving this accession process forward”, said the Working Party Chairman Ambassador D’Alotto.

WTO members welcomed the significant progress Algeria has made, as outlined in the revised Draft Working Party Report. This records Algeria’s negotiations with members and the country’s current legislative action plan. Members’ comments focused on quantitative import restrictions including prohibitions, investment restrictions, export subsidies, discriminatory application of internal taxes, the system for the registration of geographical indications (GIs), pricing policy, trading rights and agricultural policies.

Other issues for further discussion include agricultural and industrial policies and subsidies, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights and trade-related investment measures.  

Algeria reported it has signed and deposited with the WTO Secretariat five bilateral market access agreements with Cuba, Venezuela, Switzerland, Brazil and Uruguay. Ambassador D’Allotto urged members and Algeria to pursue their constructive bilateral negotiations. 

Algeria confirmed its bid to join the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) upon acceding to the WTO. The ITA is a plurilateral agreement providing for participants to completely eliminate duties on information technology products covered by the Agreement.

Algeria also announced its participation in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Internet Treaties, updating and supplementing the major existing WIPO treaties on copyright and related rights, and the Madrid International Trademark System for member countries to register and manage trademarks worldwide.

Future consultations between members, the Algerian government and the WTO Secretariat will determine when the next Working Party meeting will take place. This will be held once Algeria provides new information on its legislative developments, replies to members’ questions and updates its Legislative Action Plan and once members have reviewed this information.

 

Background information

• Application received on 3 June 1987
• Working Party established on 17 June 1987
• Previous meeting of Working Party: 5 April 2013
• Last revision of Working Party Report: 26 February 2014
• Working Party Chairperson: H.E. Mr Ambassador Alberto D’Alotto (Argentina)
• Working Party Secretary: Mr Mustapha Sekkate
• Working Party Co-Secretary: Ms Nadia Ferdi Demierre
• Director of the WTO Accessions Division: Mr Chiedu Osakwe