150pxls.gif (76 bytes)
Information about the organization

Accessions

Any state or customs territory having full autonomy in the conduct of its trade policies may become a member (“accede to”) the WTO, but all WTO members must agree on the terms. This is done through the establishment of a working party of WTO members and through a process of negotiations.

 


Accessions in progress:
> Afghanistan
> Algeria
> Andorra
> Azerbaijan
> Bahamas
> Belarus
> Bhutan
> Bosnia and Herzegovina
> Comoros
> Equatorial Guinea
> Ethiopia
> Iran
> Iraq
> Kazakhstan
> Lao People's Democratic Republic
> Lebanese Republic
> Liberia, Republic of
> Libya
> Sao Tomé and Principe
> Serbia
> Seychelles
> Sudan
> Syrian Arab Republic
> Tajikistan
> Uzbekistan
> Yemen

  

Completed accessions:
> Albania
> Armenia, Republic of
> Bulgaria
> Cambodia
> Cape Verde
> China
> Croatia
> Ecuador
> Estonia
> Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
> Georgia
> Jordan
> Kyrgyz Republic
> Latvia
> Lithuania
> Moldova
> Mongolia
> Montenegro
> Nepal
> Oman
> Panama
> Russian Federation
> Samoa
> Saudi Arabia
> Chinese Taipei
> Tonga
> Ukraine
> Vanuatu
> Viet Nam


News  back to top

  


See also:

> WTO membership in brief

> Summary table of ongoing accessions

 

 Newsletter 

 

> November 2012

> Archives

 

 Events 

 

> Beijing 2012 Round Table
for Least-developed Countries (LDCs) on Best Practices in the WTO Accession Process  

 

 Case studies 

 

> Cambodia’s Accession to WTO: ‘Fast Track’ Accession by a Least Developed Country
  

> Mongolia’s WTO Accession: Expectations and Realities of WTO Membership
 

> Nepal: The Role of an NGO in Support of Accession
  

> Vanuatu’s Suspended Accession Bid: Second Thoughts?
  

> Preparation by Viet Nam’s Banking Sector for WTO Accession
  

Introduction  back to top

Basic information on becoming a member of (“acceding to”) the WTO
Links to the section of the WTO Guide “Understanding the WTO” on how to join the WTO.

A technical explanation on how to become a member of the WTO

Handbook on accessions — online version with self-assessment questions

Interactive e-training course on the accession process

Beijing Round Table 2012

WTO Accessions Internship Programme

 

The mandate  back to top

The legal provisions on becoming a member of the WTO

Click for Doha Development Agenda gatewayAccessions and the Doha Development Agenda

Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration

Detailed information documents on accessions procedures  

Technical note on the accession process    > help
Provides a detailed analysis of the process of becoming a WTO member

> Video: explanation of GATT Article XII procedures for accession

 

Work in the WTO on accessions  back to top

A working party of WTO members guides the accession process and negotiations for each membership applicant.