“I am very pleased to welcome Ukraine as a new member. It is a significant step for the WTO as this new membership will strengthen the multilateral trading system. We will continue facilitating fuller integration into the world economy of other countries” said Director General Pascal Lamy.

The terms of membership, which include the Working Party Report for Ukraine's Accession, the Protocol of Accession, and the Schedules of Ukraine's commitments on Market Access for Goods and Services, were adopted by the WTO at the General Council in February 2008.

Ukraine ratified its accession package on 16 April 2008 which was the final step in the accession process before it could officially join the WTO. Under WTO rules, a country becomes a member 30 days after national ratification.

Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country by area, is a land of agriculture and heavy industry with a population of 46.6 million people. Its main trading partners are the EC, Russia, Turkey, Belarus and the US.