WTO 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

> For completed accessions click here

Multimedia

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Feedback 

> Please send us your feedback on the Accessions Intelligence Portal to: [email protected]

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Accession news 

  

Accessions Intelligence Portal

The Accessions Intelligence Portal contains information on on-going and completed WTO accessions since 1995 as well as other accession-related information, such as how to become a WTO member, technical assistance activities, relevant publications and other resources.

 

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Status of WTO accessions 

  • Click here to open the WTO accessions map
  • Click here for accessions by status
  • Summary table of ongoing accessions
  • List of Accession Working Party Chairpersons

 

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How to become a WTO member  

All members join the WTO as a result of negotiations. WTO membership means a balance of rights and obligations. Information on the negotiation process can be found here. Further information on the mandate, legal provisions for becoming a member, the accession process and technical explanations are provided here.

 

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Official accession documents 

Search here for accession documents.

 

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Completed accessions 

 

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Accessions Transparency Tool Box  

The aim of the evolving Accessions Transparency Tool Box (ATTB) is to help acceding governments in their WTO accession process and to ensure transparency. It includes a handbook, annual reports on accessions by the Director-General, an Accession Commitments Database (ACDB) and other tools to assist work on accessions and to ensure transparency in WTO accession negotiations.

 

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Accession-related events, technical assistance, capacity-building and outreach activities 

Information on forthcoming and past events and activities. 

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Trade for peace through WTO accession

Approximately half of the countries in the process of acceding to the WTO are considered “fragile and conflict affected” (FCA). The “Trade for Peace” initiative, launched in December 2017 at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, aims at using the WTO accession process as a pathway to economic growth and development, fundamental elements for national, regional and international peace and security.

 

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Accessions data, related research and publications  

Trade and economic performance of members that have joined the WTO since 1995, cases citing accession protocols in dispute settlement, publications, case studies, etc.

 

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Post-accession — What next?  

Background information and guidance for new members for the immediate post-accession stage.  

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Accession meetings &
 documents

 
 

Newsletter

Accessions Newsletter & Evolving Calendar on Accession Meetings (ECAM)


Director-General's Annual Report on Accessions


For more accessions data, related research and publications, click here

Databases 

  • Accession Commitments Database (ACDB)
    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.

 

For more databases, click here

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