Vanuatu

This page gathers key information on Vanuatu's negotiations to join the WTO. Vanuatu became the 157th WTO Member on 24 August 2012.

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Vanuatu's Timeline

I. Overview
Application received	07/06/1995	WT/ACC/VUT/1
Accession Working Party established	11/07/1995	WT/GC/M/5
Terms of reference & accession Working Party membership	23/04/1996	WT/ACC/VUT/3 + ( revisions & corrigenda)
Chairperson of the Accession Working Party
	2011	Under the authority of the Chairperson of the General Council, the WTO Secretariat chaired an open-ended re-convened Working Party meeting on the Accession of Vanuatu in 2011
1st	07/1996 — 10/ 2001	Ambassador Saodah B.A. SYAHRUDDIN (Indonesia)
Formal Meetings of the Working Party	Date of the meeting	Convening notice/fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation	Statement(s) by Working Party members	Delegation list	Other documents for the meeting	News item
1st	03/07/1996		—	—	—	—	—
2nd	02/05/2011		—	—	—	—	News item
Informal Meetings of the Working Party	Date of the meeting	Convening fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation
Informal Meetings of the Working Party	—	—	—
Plurilateral Meetings	Date of the meeting	Convening fax	Statement(s) by the Head of the Delegation
Plurilateral Meetings	—	—	—
II. Multilateral Negotiations
Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR)	30/11/1995	WT/ACC/VUT/2
Initial cycle(s) of Questions and Replies, following the circulation of the MFTR	09/05/1996	WT/ACC/VUT/4
	13/05/1996	WT/ACC/VUT/4/Add.1
	27/10/1997	WT/ACC/VUT/6
	11/05/1998	WT/ACC/VUT/7 (+ addendum and corrigendum)
Factual Summary of Points Raised	—	—
Additional Questions & Replies	—	—
Elements of a Draft Report of the Working Party	—	—
Draft Report of the Working Party	22/09/1999	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/7
~revised	03/11/2010	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/8 (+ revision & addenda)
~revised	16/10/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/13 (+ addenda)
~revised	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/16
Agriculture (WT/ACC/22/Add.1), including Questions and Replies	22/09/1999	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/6 (+ revisions)
SPS Checklist (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	—	—
TBT Checklist (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	16/03/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/10
TRIPS Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	—	—
Import Licensing Procedures Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	—	—
Customs Valuation Checklist (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	—	—
State-Trading Questionnaire (WT/ACC/22 + revisions)	—	—
Draft Subsidies Notification (WT/ACC/22/Add.2)	—	—
Comprehensive Legislative Action Plan (LAP)	03/11/2010	WT/ACC/VUT/15 (+ revision)
Rule-specific Action Plans	—	—
Legislation and implementing regulations	Click for details	Legislation notice		Notified legislation
	11/05/1998	WT/ACC/VUT/7/Add.1		Plant Protection Act No. 14 of 1997 Bill for the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Board and Related Amendments to Business Licence Act, Work Permits Act and Immigration Act Bill for Immigration (Amendment) Act Bill for the Labour (Work Permits)(Amendment) Act Bill for the Business Licences (Amendment) Act Bill for the Leadership Code Act Draft Value-Added Tax Bill Draft HS96 Customs Tariff Proposed Applied Tariff Rates Summary of Proposed Tariff Changes as a result of the Introduction of Value-Added Tax
	26/11/1998	WT/ACC/VUT/8		Business Licence Act No. 19 of 1998 Foreign Investment Act No. 15 of 1998 Labour (Work Permits) (Amendment) Act No. 9 of 1998 Bill for the Value Added Tax Act No.12 of 1998
	22/09/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/9		Bill for the Patents Act of 1999 and Explanatory Note Bill for the Copyright Act of 1999 and Explanatory Note Bill for the Trademarks Act of 1999 and Explanatory Note Bill for the Import Duties (Consolidation) (Customs Valuation Amendment) of 1999 and Explanatory Note
	30/09/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.1		Bill for the Designs Act of 2000 and Explanatory Note
	15/10/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.2		Bill for the Trade Secrets Act No. __ of 1999 (and Explanatory Note) Bill for the Geographical Indications (Wine) Act No. __ of 2000 (and Explanatory Note)
	15/02/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.3		Customs Act No. 15 of 1999 Bill for the Import Duties (Consolidation) (Customs Valuation Amendment) Act No. 8 of 1999
	18/06/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.4		Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2000 Bill for the Circuit Layouts Act of 1999 Customs Act No. 15 of 1999 Import Duties (Consolidation) (Customs Valuation Amendment) Act No. 8 of 1999 Import Duties (Consolidation) (Customs Valuation Amendment) Act No. 9 of 2000 Public Finance and Economic Management (Amendment) Act No. 10 of 1999 Public Finance and Economic Management (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2000 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act No. 5 of 2000
	10/10/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.6		Foreign Investment (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2001 The Duty Exemption Policy – Manufacture & Process Sector as per the Vanuatu Customs Tariff, Schedule III, Section 1, X.1 of 1998 Value Added Tax Act No. 12 of 1998 (consolidated to 29 January 2001) (Files 1; 2; 3; 4) — Value Added Tax Amendment Act No 24 of 1998 — Value Added Tax Amendment Act No 45 of 2000 Business Licence Act No. 19 of 1998 Bill for the Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 90/1999 and explanatory note Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2000 — Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2000 - Explanatory Note Bill for the Circuit Layouts Act No. 51 of 2000 and explanatory note Geographical Indications (Wine) Act No. 53 of 2000 Bill for the Trade Secrets Act No. 52 of 2000 and explanatory note Copyright and Related Rights Act No. 42 of 2000 Draft Bill for the Designs Act of 2001 — Draft Bill for the Designs Act of 2001 - Explanatory Note Draft Bill for the Trademarks Act of 2001 — Draft Bill for the Trademarks Act of 2001- Explanatory Note Bill for the Patents Act of 2001 — Bill for the Patents Act of 2001- Explanatory Note
	12/10/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/11		Foreign Investment (Amendment) Act No. 1 of 1999 Bill for the Business Licence Act No. 19 of 1998 Bill for the Customs Act No. – of 1999 The Duty Exemption Policy and application form for exemption of customs duty Import of Goods (Miscellaneous Control) (Repeal) Order No. 13 of 1999 Bill for the Import Duties (Consolidation) (Customs Valuation Amendment) Act No. – of 1999 Bill for the Value Added Tax Act No. 12 of 1998 and Explanatory Note Independent Assessment of Vanuatu Quarantine and Inspection Services (31 August 1999) Animal Importation and Quarantine Act (Cap.201), Revised Edition 1988 and Regulations under the Act Decision Pathway for Pest Risk Assessment for Pacific Island Countries Plant Protection Act No. 14 of 1997 and Manual for its implementation dated 30 September 1997 Bill for the Copyright Act No. – of 1999 (draft as at 28 August 1999) Harmonised Custom Tariff 1996
	03/11/2010	WT/ACC/VUT/14		Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2007 Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion (Amendment) Act No. 23 of 2008 The Imports of Goods (Control), Consolidated Edition of 2006 Business Licence Act (Chapter 249) Consolidated Edition of 2006 The Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 1 of 2006 Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2006 Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 19 of 2007 Customs (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2003 Customs (Amendment) Act No. 20 of 2007 The Import Duties (Consolidation) (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2006 The Import Duties (Consolidation) (Amendment) Act No. 36 of 2006 Agricultural Fees (Chapter 74) Consolidated Edition 2006 Excise Act No. 24 of 2002 Excise (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2003 Excise Tax (Amendment) Act No. 38 of 2006 Beer (Repeal) Act No. 25 of 2002 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act No. 28 of 2002 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act No. 3 of 2007 Alcohol Importation, Consolidated Edition 2006 [CAP. 8] Tobacco Control Act No. 19 of 2008 Export Duties (Amendment) Act No. 19 of 2006 Export Duties (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2007 Food (Control) Act No. 21 of 1993, Consolidated Edition 2006 Food (Control) (Amendment) Act No. 27 of 2009 The Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2003 The Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2005 Circuit Layouts Act No. 51 of 2000 Copyright and Related Rights Act No. 42 of 2000 Geographical Indications (Wine) Act No. 53 of 2000 Trade Secrets Act No. 52 of 2000 Designs Act No. 3 of 2003 Patents Act No. 2 of 2003 Trademarks Act No. 1 of 2003 Registration of United Kingdom Patents (Chapter 80) Consolidated Edition of 2006 Registration of United Kingdom Patents (Amendment) Act No. 14 of 2008 Registration of United Kingdom Trade Marks (Chapter 81) Consolidated Edition of 2006 Registration of United Kingdom Trade Marks (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2008 Legal Profession Act No. 49 of 2005 The Telecommunication Act No. 10 of 1989 Telecommunication (Amendment) Act No. 34 of 2006 Telecommunications (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2007 Telecommunications (Amendment) Act No. 31 of 2009 Insurance Act No. 54 of 2005 Insurance (Amendment) Act No. 29 of 2009 Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group (Ratification) Act No. 18 of 2007 Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) (Ratification) Act No. 5 of 2003 Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) Consolidated Amendments (Ratification) Act No. 3 of 2008 Customs Import and Export Duty Tariff - Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Third Edition 2002)
	25/11/2010	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.1		Bill for the Import of Goods (Control) (Amendment) Act No. of 2010, and Explanatory Note Bill for the Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. of 2010, and Explanatory Note
	26/11/2010	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.2		Bill for the Excise (Amendment) Act No. of 2010, and Explanatory Note Bill for the Import Duties (Amendment) Act No. of 2010, and Explanatory Note
	15/03/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.3		Official Gazette, Extraordinary Gazette No. 4, dated 8 February 2011 – Cover page and Trademarks Act No. 1 of 2003 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No. 2 of 2010 Import Duties (Amendment) Act No. 29 of 2010 Excise (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 2010 Business Licence (Amendment) Act No. 34 of 2010 Import of Goods (Control) (Amendment) Act No. 37 of 2010
	27/04/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.6		Import Duties (Chapter 91) Consolidation Act of 2006.
	02/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.7		Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009
Consultation documents	Click for details	Consultation notice		Notified consultation document
	10/07/1996	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/1		General statement by Honourable Sela Molisa, Minister for Industries, Trade and Commerce on the occasion of the first formal meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Vanuatu to the World Trade Organization
	25/05/1998	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/4		Statement by the Honourable James Bule, Minister of Trade and Business Development, at the Informal Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Vanuatu to the WTO held on 11 May 1998
	11/05/1998	WT/ACC/VUT/7/Add.1		Proposed Applied Tariff Rates Summary of Proposed Tariff Changes as a result of the Introduction of Value-Added Tax
	12/10/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/11		Schedules setting out quarantine requirements for the importation of selected products into Vanuatu: No. 45, goats from Australia, No. 46, caprine embryos from the Republic of South Africa; and No. 47, bovine embryos from USA Conditions for Vessels Carrying Live Animals Vanuatu Quarantine and Inspection Services – Import Documentation
	03/09/1998	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/5		Communication from the Department of Trade, Industry and Investment of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu
	29/05/1996	WT/ACC/VUT/5		Checklist of documents
	12/10/2001	WT/ACC/VUT/9/Add.5		Communication from the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu concerning the establishment of TBT and SPS enquiry points
	15/04/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.4		Compendium of Legislation
	21/04/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/14/Add.5		Compendium of Legislation
	09/11/1999	WT/ACC/VUT/12 (+ addendum)		Complete accession package consisting of proposals for the report of the Working Party, a draft Decision and Protocol, Goods Schedule and Services Schedule
	19/07/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/18		Letter from Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Ham Lini VANUAROROA
III. Bilateral Market Access Negotiations
Goods Offer(s)	03/11/1997	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/2 (+ revisions)
Services Offer(s)	03/11/1997	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/3 (+ revisions)
Register of Bilateral Market Access Agreements
Draft Goods Schedule	03/11/2010	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/8/Add.1
~revised	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/16/Add.1 (File 1; File 2)
Draft Services Schedule	03/11/2010	WT/ACC/SPEC/VUT/8/Add.2
~revised	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/16/Add.2
Goods and Services Technical Verification Meetings	—	—
IV. Summary of Final Meeting of the Working Party
—	—	—
V. Accession Package (“Terms of Accession”, de-restricted)
Ministerial Conference/General Council Decision on the Accession	26/10/2011	WT/L/823		News item
Protocol of Accession	26/10/2011	WT/L/823
Report of the Working Party	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/17
Goods Schedule (Schedule of Concessions and Commitments Annexed to the GATT 1994)	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/17/Add.1 (File 1; File 2)
Services Schedule (Schedule of Specific Commitments Annexed to the GATS)	11/05/2011	WT/ACC/VUT/17/Add.2
VI. Accessions Commitments Database (ACDB)
Specific Accession Commitments	http://acdb.wto.org/ click on “Report by Member”, select “Vanuatu” in drop down list then click on “View Report”
VII. Instrument of Acceptance
Notification of Acceptance and Entry Into Force of the Protocol of Accession	25/07/2012	WT/LET/861		News item
VIII. Date of Membership
	24/08/2012	157th Member		News item
IX. Since 1995, this is the…
29th economy that joined the WTO pursuant to Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement.

All documents on the accession of Vanuatu in Documents Online by date of circulation help

Note:
The de-restriction of documents is a key component of the transparency obligations of the Multilateral Trading System. Paragraphs 1 and 2(e) of the Ministerial Council Decision WT/L/452 of 14 May 2002 provide that “documents relating to working parties on accession shall be restricted and shall be automatically de-restricted upon the adoption of the report of the working party” by the Ministerial Conference/General Council. The time of completion of the de-restriction process depends on the amount and complexities of the documents involved. Prior to 2002, the de-restriction of accession-related documents was governed by a different set of rules (i.e. General Council Decision WT/L/160/Rev.1 of 26 July 1996), which only affect documents circulated prior to 2002.

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Vanuatu's Timeline