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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
> Lebanese Republic
> Liberia, Republic of
> Libya
> Sao Tomé and Principe
> Serbia
> Seychelles
> Sudan
> Syrian Arab Republic
> Uzbekistan

  

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

 Events

 

> Accession-Related Technical Assistance Activities 
    

 


News  back to top

  


 

 

 Newsletter and Calendar 

 

> October 2014

> Archives

 

 Annual report 

 

> Annual report

 

 

 Databases 

 

> Accession Commitments Database (ACDB) (opens a new window) to obtain all accession commitments and related information provided in the Accession Working Party Reports and Accession Protocols of the Members that have acceded to the WTO, pursuant to Article II of the Marrakesh Agreement.

 

> I-TIP-Services Portal A set of linked databases that provides information on Members' commitments under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), services commitments in regional trade agreements (RTA), applied measures in services, and services statistics.

 

 

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.

 

Case Studies  back to top