Lao People’s Democratic Republic

This page gathers key information on Lao PDR's negotiations to join the WTO. Lao PDR became the 158th WTO member on 2 February 2013.

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Lao People’s Democratic Republic's Timeline

I. Overview
Application received	16/07/1997	WT/ACC/LAO/1
Accession Working Party established	19/02/1998	WT/GC/M/26
Terms of reference & accession Working Party membership	02/09/2004	WT/ACC/LAO/2 + ( revisions)
Chairperson of the Accession Working Party
5th	07/2011 - 09/2012	Ambassador YI Xiaozhun (China)
4th	05/2009 - 07/2011	Dr. ZHANG Xiangchen (China)
3rd	07/2006 - 05/2009	Ambassador Bruce GOSPER (Australia)
2nd	05/2004 - 07/2006	Ambassador Tim GROSER (New Zealand)
1st	04/1998 - 05/2004	Ambassador Geoff RABY (Australia)
Formal Meetings of the Working Party	Date of the meeting	Convening notice/fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation	Statement(s) by Working Party members	Delegation list	Other documents for the meeting	News item
1st	28/10/2004			—	—	—	News item
2nd	30/11/2006		—	—	—	—	News item
3rd	15/11/2007			—	—	—	News item
4th	04/07/2008			—		—	News item
5th	14/07/2009			—		—	News item
6th	24/09/2010			—		—	News item
7th	29/06/2011			—		—	News item
8th	16/03/2012			—		—	News item
9th	12/07/2012			—		—	News item
10th	28/09/2012			—		—	News item
Informal Meetings of the Working Party	Date of the meeting	Convening fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation
Informal Meetings of the Working Party	—	—	—
Plurilateral Meetings	Date of the meeting	Convening fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation
Plurilateral Meetings	—	—	—
II. Multilateral Negotiations
Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR)	28/03/2001	WT/ACC/LAO/3
Initial cycle(s) of Questions and Replies, following the circulation of the MFTR	02/10/2003	WT/ACC/LAO/4
	31/07/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/5
	31/10/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/8
	20/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/11
Factual Summary of Points Raised	29/10/2007
Additional Questions & Replies	06/05/2008	WT/ACC/LAO/16
	05/05/2009	WT/ACC/LAO/17
	01/06/2010	WT/ACC/LAO/18
	31/03/2011	WT/ACC/LAO/20
	24/01/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/24
	15/06/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/36 (+ corrigendum)
	26/07/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/41
	28/08/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/43
Elements of a Draft Report of the Working Party	27/08/2010	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/4 (+ revisions)
Draft Report of the Working Party	16/02/2012	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/5 (+ revisions & corrigendum)
Agriculture (WT/ACC/22/Add.1), including Questions and Replies	19/07/2006	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/1 (+ revisions)
	27/07/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/6 (+ revisions)
TBT Checklist (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	27/07/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/6 (+ revisions)
TRIPS Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	27/07/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/7 (+ revisions)
Import Licensing Procedures Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	24/01/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/25 (+ addendum)
Customs Valuation Checklist (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	—	—
State-Trading Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	—	—
Draft Subsidies Notification (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	01/06/2010	WT/ACC/LAO/19
Comprehensive Legislative Action Plan (LAP)	30/10/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/9 (+ revisions)
Rule-specific Action Plans	20/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/12 (+ revisions) (Customs valuation-specific)
	20/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/13 (+ revisions) (SPS-specific)
	20/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/14 (+ revisions) (TBT-specific)
	20/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/15 (+ revisions) (IP-specific)
Legislation and implementing regulations	Click for details	Legislation notice		Notified legislation
	28/03/2001	WT/ACC/LAO/3/Add.1		Law on Customs Regulations On the Authorization for the Operation of the Import-Export Business Law On Forestry Resolution On the Adoption of the Forestry Law Decree On the Promulgation of the Forestry Law Notification On the Management of Forestry and the Timber Industry Decree On the Preservation of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage Regulations On the Control and Use of Plant Pesticides in the Lao PDR Regulations On the Quarantine of Plants in the Lao PDR Regulations On the Management and Use of Plant Species and Seeds for Planting in the Lao PDR Decree on the Quarantine of Plants in the Lao PDR Decree On the Management of the Standards and Quality of Goods and Products Decree On Livestock Management in Lao PDR Regulation on Livestock Management in Lao PDR No. 0004/MOAF Instruction On the Regulation on Livestock Management in Lao PDR Provisions On the Control of Export-Oriented and Imported Foodstuffs Elaborated Recommendations Relating to the Regulations on Quality Control of Export-Oriented and Imported Foodstuffs No. 035/FMC Provisions On Quality Control of Domestically Produced Food Products Provisions For Quality Control of Domestically Circulated Foodstuff Implementation of Rules and Regulations On Government Procurement of Goods Construction Repairs and Services Law on the Promotion and Management of Foreign Investment in the Lao PDR Constitution of the Lao PDR Business Law Decree on the Implementation of the Business Law Notification on the Implementation of Enterprise Registration Based on the Business Law Decree on Trademarks Law - Domestic Investment Promotion Resolution Approving the Law on Domestic Investment Promotion Decree on Domestic Investment Promotion Law on the Bank of the Lao PDR Decree on the Bank of Lao Regulation on Commercial Banks and Financial Institutions’ Capital Adequacy Under Supervision by the Bank of the Lao PDR Regulation on Protecting Soundness Practices of the Commercial Banks and Financial Institutions which are Under the Supervision of the Bank of the Lao PDR Regulations on Foreign Currency Exposure Regulation on Conditions for Establishing Banks in the Lao PDR Decree on Commercial Banks Insurance Law Decree on the Management of Foreign Exchange and Precious Metals Regulations on the Establishment of Businesses of Transportation Shipping and Repair Services by the State; State Private Collectives and Private Individuals Law on Road TransportationA Decree on the Enforcement of the Law on Road Transportation Decree on Private Education Regulations on the Management of Hotels and Guesthouses Regulations on the Establishment and Management of Tourist Service Operators Import Licence
	02/10/2003	WT/ACC/LAO/4/Add.1		Decision on the Rules for Consideration Approval of Foreign Investment Project in the Lao Decree on Export and Import Management Decree on Goods Trading Business Decree on Patent, Petty Patent and Industrial Designs Decree on the Abolishing of Export Tariffs for Agricultural Products Decree on the Implementation of the Law on the Promotion and Management of Foreign Investment in the Lao PDR Minister Instruction on the Abolishing of Export Tariffs for Agricultural Products Notification on the List of Imports and Exports Subject to Licensing from Trade Authorities and Subject to Technical Certification from Related Authorities (for the year 2002-2003) Technical norms on livestock management in the Lao PDR Telecommunications Act
	09/12/2003	WT/ACC/LAO/4/Add.2		Prime Minister's Order on Forestry Management Policy for the Year 2002-2003, No. 18/PM of 4 October 2002 Regulation on Food Quality Control in Domestic Distribution No. 105/CFD of 31 October 1991
	27/07/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/5/Add.1		Law On the Promotion of Domestic Investment Decree No. On the Promotion of Foreign Investment Decree Regarding the Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Foreign Investment Customs Law Mining Law Decree On Border Trade Zone at Boten, Louangnamtha Province Decree On Dansavanh Village Border Trade Zone Decree On Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone Regulation On Registration of Trademarks Regulation On the Implementation of Decree on Patent, Petty Patent and Industrial Designs
	27/07/2007	WT/ACC/LAO/11/Add.1		Additional Instruction for Implementation of Some Articles of the Instruction No. 02/BOL of 29 September 2003 Regulation On the Control on Production, Exported-Imported Safe Food
	06/05/2008	WT/ACC/LAO/16/Add.1		Enterprise Law Ordinance On Legal Act Drafting Customs Law Implementing Decree The National Science and Technology Policy of Lao PDR up to the year 2010
	04/07/2008	WT/ACC/LAO/16/Add.2		Standards Law
	29/05/2009	WT/ACC/LAO/17/Add.1		Law On Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters Food Law National Policy on Food Safety Regulation On the Basic Principles in the Application of Sanitary and Technical Measures for the Food Safety Management
	08/07/2009	WT/ACC/LAO/17/Add.2		Law On Intellectual Property
	10/07/2009	WT/ACC/LAO/17/Add.3		Decree On Import Licensing Procedures
	01/06/2010	WT/ACC/LAO/18/Add.1		Law On Investment Promotion Decree On the Origin of Import and Export Goods Notification On the List of Controlled Goods Subject to Non-Automatic Import and Export Licensing Procedures in Lao PDR
	08/09/2010	WT/ACC/LAO/18/Add.2		Decree On the Notification and Enquiry of Trade Related Information Guidance On the Implementation of the Customs Law No. 05/NA dated 20 May 2005 and Decree Implementing the Customs Law Instruction On Customs Valuation
	31/03/2011	WT/ACC/LAO/20/Add.1		Presidential Decree Law Governing the Management of Foreign Exchange and Precious Metals Instruction On Implementation of Decree Law on Management of Foreign Currency and Precious Metals Decree On Special Economic Zone and Specific Economic Zone in the Lao PDR Decree On the Administration of Prices of Goods and Services Decision On Notification Unit of Sanitary-Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade Decision On GATS Enquiry Point
	04/05/2011	WT/ACC/LAO/21		Decree On Import and Export of Goods Fisheries Law
	20/05/2011	WT/ACC/LAO/22		Notification On the Automatic and Non-automatic Licensing of Import and Export of Goods — Annex 1: Goods subject to non-automatic import and export licensing — Annex 2: Goods subject to automatic import and export licensing Law On the Resolution of Economic Disputes Decree On the Implementation of the Law on Commercial Bank Regulation On Labeling of Prepackaged Food Contract and Tort Law Law On Judgement Enforcement (Amended) Presidential Decree On the Promulgation of the Amended Law on Court Fees Presidential Decree On the Promulgation of the Law on the Handling of Petitions Presidential Decree On the Promulgation of the Amended Law on Criminal Procedure Presidential Decree On the Promulgation of the Penal Law
	27/05/2011	WT/ACC/LAO/23		Notification On Prohibited Goods on Import or Export — Annex I: Prohibited Goods on Import or Export
	24/01/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/24/Add.1		Decree On Implementation of the Investment Promotion Law — Annex 1: Promoted Activities — Annex 2: The List of Investment Promoted Zones — Annex 3: Concession Activities Decree On Adoption of the Negative List Decision On the Organization and Operation of Technical Barriers to Trade Enquiry Point Decision On the Organization and Operation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Enquiry Point Notification On the List of Goods subject to Automatic and Non-automatic Import and Export Licensing Instruction On Customs Measures for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
	08/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/26		Law On Plant Protection Instruction of the Director-General of the Customs Department "On Customs Valuation for Imported Goods
	15/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/27		Ministerial Decision On the Basic Principles for the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Plant and Animal Product Administration Notification On Goods Subject to Automatic and Non-automatic Import or Export Licensing
	17/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/28		Decision on Declaration Form on the Use of Customs Declaration Form for Imported Goods Subjected to Duties and Taxes Instruction On the Completion of the Customs Declaration Form
	21/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/29		Decree On the Promulgation of the Law on Postal Services Decree On the Promulgation of the Law on Civil Aviation Decree On the Promulgation of the Law on Health Care Decree On the Promulgation of the Law on Tourism
	23/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/30		Decision On the Procedures for Car Import and Distribution in the Lao PDR Decision On Procedure for Import and Distribution of Gas in the Lao PDR Decision On Procedure for Import and Distribution of Petroleum in the Lao PDR
	28/02/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/31		Decree On the Promulgation of the Accounting Law (amended text) Decision On Food Inspection Resolution On the Adoption of the Law on Education (as amended)
	13/03/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/32		Decree On the Cancellation of Local Content Requirements set out in Previous Legislations Decision On the Procedures for Steel and Cement Import and Distribution Decision On the Procedure for Timber Import Decision On Procedures for Rice Import and Export in the Lao PDR
	08/05/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/34		Law On Intellectual Property1
	15/06/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/36/Add.1		Law On Telecommunications (Amended) Law On Tax Law On Customs Law On Commercial Banks Ministerial Decision On the Organization and Operation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Enquiry Point Edict On List of Goods and Export Duty Rates Decree On the Prevention and Control of Animal Diseases Decree On Implementing the Law on Plant Protection Instruction On Procedures for the Importation of Industrial Explosive Substances Decree On the Implementation of the Law on Standardization Decree On the Control of the Movement of Animal and Animal Products
	22/06/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/37		Ministerial Instruction On Customs Valuation of Imported Goods
	19/07/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/38		Decree On Associations
	20/07/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/39		Decision On Import and Export Licensing Procedures of Minerals and Mineral Products Instruction On Procedures for the Importation of Industrial Explosive Substances
	25/07/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/40		Decision On Procedures for Importation and Exportation of Gold Bars Decision On Procedures for Importation, Management and Utilization of Chainsaw [Wood-cutting machines] Decision On Procedures for Importation and Distribution of Publications Notification Importation of Gun and Bullet for Sportive Purposes
	30/07/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/42		Instruction On Additional Explanations on the Customs Valuation of Imported Goods
	28/08/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/44		Penal Law No. 12/NA, dated 9 November 2005: - Decree No. 04/PO “On the Promulgation of the Penal Law”, dated 9 January 1990 - Decree No. 51/PO “On the Promulgation of the Amendments to Laws”, dated 25 April 2001 - Decree No. 142/PO “On the Promulgation of the Amended Penal Law”, dated 9 November 2005 Decision On Industrial Designs Decision On Patents and Petty Patents Decision On Integrated Circuit Layout-Designs Decision On Geographical Indications Decision On Copyright and Related Rights Decision On Trademarks and Trade Names
Consultation documents	Click for details	Consultation notice		Notified consultation document
	28/03/2001	WT/ACC/LAO/3/Add.1		Notification on the Import of Motor Cycles Over 250cc – No. 1552/MCTPC List of Medicines Prohibited in the Lao PDR based on Decree of the Ministry of Public Health No. 740/MPH List of Chemical Products Under Restricted Control No. 1364/95/DFM
	02/10/2003	WT/ACC/LAO/4/Add.1		Animal herd equilibrium Import Permit Authorization Flow Chart for Agricultural Commodities/Chemicals List of pets and diseases of plants quarantine
	02/11/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/10		Applied Tariff of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
	02/11/2006	WT/ACC/LAO/10/Rev.1		Revised Applied Tariff of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
	03/05/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/33		Bilateral Market Access Negotiations on Goods between Ukraine and Lao PDR, and Ukraine and Yemen
	06/06/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/35		Beijing 2012 High Level Round Table on Best Practices in WTO Accessions for Least-developed Countries
III. Bilateral Market Access Negotiations
Goods Offer(s)	03/11/2006	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/2 (+ revisions)
Services Offer(s)	16/10/2007	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/3 (+ revisions)
Register of Bilateral Market Access Agreements
Draft Goods Schedule	20/08/2012	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/7
Draft Services Schedule	20/08/2012	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/6 (+ corrigendum)
Goods and Services Technical Verification Meetings	—	—
IV. Summary of Final Meeting of the Working Party
—	—	WT/ACC/SPEC/LAO/46
V. Accession Package (“Terms of Accession”, de-restricted)
Ministerial Conference/General Council Decision on the Accession	26/10/2012	WT/L/865			News item
Protocol of Accession	29/10/2012	WT/L/865
Report of the Working Party	01/10/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/45
Goods Schedule (Schedule of Concessions and Commitments Annexed to the GATT 1994)	01/10/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/45/Add.1 (Part 1, Part 2)
Services Schedule (Schedule of Specific Commitments Annexed to the GATS)	01/10/2012	WT/ACC/LAO/45/Add.2
VI. Accessions Commitments Database (ACDB)
Specific Accession Commitments	http://acdb.wto.org/ click on “Report by Member”, select “Lao People’s Democratic Republic” in drop down list then click on “View Report”
VII. Instrument of Acceptance
Notification of Acceptance and Entry Into Force of the Protocol of Accession	03/01/2013	WT/LET/872			News item
VIII. Date of Membership
	02/02/2013	158th Member			News item
IX. Since 1995, this is the…
30th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement.

All documents on the accession of Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Documents Online by date of circulation help

Note:
The de-restriction of documents is a key component of the transparency obligations of the Multilateral Trading System. Paragraphs 1 and 2(e) of the Ministerial Council Decision WT/L/452 of 14 May 2002 provide that “documents relating to working parties on accession shall be restricted and shall be automatically de-restricted upon the adoption of the report of the working party” by the Ministerial Conference/General Council. The time of completion of the de-restriction process depends on the amount and complexities of the documents involved. Prior to 2002, the de-restriction of accession-related documents was governed by a different set of rules (i.e. General Council Decision WT/L/160/Rev.1 of 26 July 1996), which only affect documents circulated prior to 2002.

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