Working Party Members expressed their support for Serbia's accession. While reviewing the reforms undertaken by Serbia to its trade regime to comply with WTO rules, Members pointed out that some work still remained to be accomplished on few issues, such as trading rights, import licensing, export duties, customs, balance of payments, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, intellectual property and agricultural policies. 

The Working Party Chair, Marie-Claire Swärd-Capra (Sweden) said that the negotiations were very advanced and rapidly maturing. Ambassador Swärd-Capra encouraged Serbia to further intensify its reforms.

Serbia's Chief Accession Negotiator Vesna Arsić reiterated that WTO accession was very important for her country. She said that Serbia clearly demonstrated significant reforms in a relatively short period and that outstanding issues were now very limited in scope. She hoped that Members would recognise and appreciate the progress achieved so far while being aware of Serbia's real economic situation and its development level. She stressed that 2010 showed signs of economic recovery which was mostly based on the growth of exports (+24% compared to 2009)  but added that growing unemployment was a very serious challenge to overcome.

 

Market access negotiations

Serbia has signed Bilateral Market Access Agreements with the European Union, Honduras, Japan, Norway and the Republic of Korea. Bilateral negotiations have been concluded with Canada and Switzerland and a date was currently being fixed for the signing of the bilateral protocols. 

 

Next steps

The Draft Working Party Report containing Serbia's reforms to its trade regime and serving as a basis for further talks will be revised and updated by the WTO Secretariat before the next meeting, which will take place in a few months.

 

Background information

• Working Party Chairperson: Marie-Claire Swärd-Capra (Sweden)
• Previous Working Party meeting: October 2010
• Last revision of the Draft Working Party Report: February 2011
• Beginning of negotiations: February 2005