ACCESSIONS:
Current status of WTO accessions
“Terms of accession” are negotiated by WTO members and the acceding government in various formal and informal settings — through bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral meetings or consultations.
WTO accession process at a glance
To better understand the different negotiating stages of the WTO accession process, click on the above diagram
Following the establishment of a working party for the accession process, bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations take place in parallel. The successful conclusion of these negotiations leads to the drafting of an accession package (“terms of accession/entry”), which needs to be adopted by the accession working party and approved by the WTO's General Council or Ministerial Conference. Subsequently, the acceding government has to accept the “terms of entry” — either through signature or ratification — and becomes a full-fledged WTO member 30 days after it notifies the acceptance of its Protocol of Accession to the WTO Director-General.
The chart below shows the current status for ongoing accessions and lists, by year of membership, the economies that have joined the WTO since 1995 pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.
Current status of WTO accessions:
Working Party established for
Multilateral Process
Bilateral Process
Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) submitted by
Factual Summary of Points Raised circulated for
Elements of a draft Report stage (EdWPR) circulated for
Draft Report of the Working Party circulated for
Goods offer submitted by
On-going bilateral market access negotiations on goods
Draft Goods Schedule circulated for
Services offer submitted by
On-going bilateral market access negotiations on services
Draft Services Schedule circulated for
Draft Accession Package adopted, ad referendum, by the Working Party on the Accession of
Formal action by GeneralCouncil/Ministerial Conference
Acceptance by Acceding Government
Notification of acceptance
Membership since
Share
Disclaimer
This site is intended to reflect the current status of accessions, based on the most recent event having taken place in the process for each accession. It has been prepared by the Secretariat under its own responsibility and is in no way intended to affect the rights or obligations of WTO Members.
Problems viewing this page? If so, please contact [email protected] giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using.