World Trade Organization accession and membership

The original members of the World Trade Organization are the parties to the GATT after ratifying the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization and the European Communities. They obtained this status at the entry into force on 1 January 1996 or upon their date of ratification. All other members have joined the organization as a result of negotiation, and membership consists of a balance of rights and obligations. The process of becoming a World Trade Organization (WTO) member is unique to each applicant country, and the terms of accession are dependent upon the country's stage of economic development and the current trade regime.

As is typical of WTO procedures, an offer of accession is only given once consensus is reached among interested parties. The process takes about five years, on average, but it can take some countries almost a decade if the country is less than fully committed to the process, or if political issues interfere. The shortest accession negotiation was that of Kyrgyzstan, lasting 2 years and 10 months. The longest was that of China, lasting 15 years and 5 months. Russia, having first applied to join the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1993, has been accepted for membership in December 2011, and will enter 30 days following ratification. Iran is currently the largest economy outside of the WTO (and was the second-largest prior to Russia's admission).

Accession process

WTO accession progress. (As of May 2012, including imminent membership of the Russian Federation.):

  members (including dual-representation with the European Communities)

  Draft Working Party Report or Factual Summary adopted

  Goods and/or Services offers submitted

  Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime submitted

  observer, negotiations to start later or no Memorandum on FTR submitted

  frozen procedures or no negotiations in the last 3 years

  no official interaction with the WTO

The process of accession can be broken down into four major stages: a country wishing to accede to the WTO submits an application to the General Council. The government applying for membership has to describe all aspects of its trade and economic policies that have a bearing on WTO agreements. The application is submitted to the WTO in a memorandum which is examined by a working party open to all interested WTO Members, and dealing with the country's application. For large countries such as Russia, numerous countries participate in this process. For smaller countries, the Quadrilateral group of countries – consisting of the EU, the United States, Canada and Japan – and an applicant's neighboring countries are typically most involved. The applicant then presents a detailed memorandum to the Working Party on its foreign trade regime, describing, among other things, its economy, economic policies, domestic and international trade regulations, and intellectual property policies. The Working Party Members submit written questions to the applicant to clarify aspects of its foreign trade regime with particular attention being paid to the degree of privatization in the economy and the extent to which government regulation is transparent. After all necessary background information has been acquired, the Working Party will begin meeting to focus on issues of discrepancy between the WTO rules and the Applicant's international and domestic trade policies and laws. The WP determines the terms and conditions of entry into the WTO for the applicant nation, and may consider transitional periods to allow countries some leeway in complying with the WTO rules.

The final phase of accession involves bilateral negotiations between the applicant nation and other Working Party members regarding the concessions and commitments on tariff levels and market access for goods and services. These talks cover tariff rates and specific market access commitments, and other policies in goods and services. The new member's commitments are to apply equally to all WTO members under normal non-discrimination rules, even though they are negotiated bilaterally. In other words, the talks determine the benefits (in the form of export opportunities and guarantees) other WTO members can expect when the new member joins. The talks can be highly complicated; it has been said that in some cases the negotiations are almost as large as an entire round of multilateral trade negotiations.

When the bilateral talks conclude, the working party finalizes the terms of accession. sends an accession package, which includes a summary of all the WP meetings, the Protocol of Accession (a draft membership treaty), and lists ("schedules") of the member-to-be's commitments to the General Council or Ministerial Conference. Once the General Council or Ministerial Conference approves of the terms of accession, the applicant's parliament must ratify the Protocol of Accession before it can become a member. The documents used in the accession process which are embargoed during the accession process are released once the nation becomes a member.

Members and observers

A world map of WTO participation:

  Members

  Members, dually represented with the European Union

  Observer

  Non-member

The WTO has 155 members (almost all of the 123 nations participating in the Uruguay Round signed on at its foundation, and the rest had to get membership). The 27 states of the European Union are represented also as the European Communities. Some non-sovereign autonomous entities of member states are included as separate members, since WTO members do not have to be full sovereign nation-members. Instead, they must be a customs territory with full autonomy in the conduct of their external commercial relations. Thus Hong Kong became a GATT contracting party by the now terminated "sponsorship" procedure of the United Kingdom (Hong Kong uses the name "Hong Kong, China" since 1997). A new member of this type is the Republic of China (Taiwan), which acceded to the WTO in 2002, and carefully crafted its application by joining under the name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)".

Tonga was admitted on 15 December 2005 during the ministerial conference. On 11 January 2007, Vietnam became the 150th WTO member state. Tonga finalized ratification of the admittance in July 2007, and thus became the 151st member state. Ukraine became the 152nd member state on 16 May 2008. Cape Verde joined on 23 July 2008 as the 153rd member state. Subsequently, Vanuatu, Russia, Montenegro and Samoa have been admitted, bringing the number of members to 156, subject to those countries' ratification.

A number of non-members have been observers (25, including Russia) at the WTO and are currently negotiating their membership: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra (negotiations frozen since 2003), Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican; special exception from the rules allows it to remain observer without starting negotiations), Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Yemen. With the exception of the Holy See, observers must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers. The last country admitted as observer-only before applying for full membership was Equatorial Guinea in 2002, but since 2007 it is also in full membership negotiations. In 2007 Liberia and Comoros applied directly for full membership. Some international intergovernmental organizations are also granted observer status to WTO bodies.

The following states so far have no official interaction with the WTO: Cook Islands, East Timor, Eritrea, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Niue, North Korea, Palau, San Marino, Somalia, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and all the states with limited recognition except Taiwan.

Russia was the only large economy outside of the WTO after China joined in 2001. It had begun negotiating to join the WTO's predecessor in 1993. The final major point of contention – related to the 2008 Russo-Georgian War – was solved by Switzerland, which mediated between Russia and Georgia. The United States and the European Union, the main export partners of Russia, welcomed the decision. Membership of the WTO is expected to benefit the Russian economy and attract more foreign investment to the country.

Accession to membership of Montenegro and Samoa was adopted on 17 December 2011. Montenegro ratified its accession package on 30 March 2012 and became a fully-fledged member on 29 April 2012. Samoa became a member on 10 May 2012.

List of members and accession dates

The following table lists all current members and their accession date.

Country	Date of Accession
Albania	02000-09-088 September 2000
Angola	01996-11-2323 November 1996
Antigua and Barbuda	01995-01-011 January 1995
Argentina	01995-01-011 January 1995
Armenia	02003-02-055 February 2003
Australia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Austria	01995-01-011 January 1995
Bahrain	01995-01-011 January 1995
Bangladesh	01995-01-011 January 1995
Barbados	01995-01-011 January 1995
Belgium	01995-01-011 January 1995
Belize	01995-01-011 January 1995
Benin	01996-02-2222 February 1996
Bolivia	01995-09-1212 September 1995
Botswana	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Brazil	01995-01-011 January 1995
Brunei Darussalam	01995-01-011 January 1995
Bulgaria	01996-12-011 December 1996
Burkina Faso	01995-06-033 June 1995
Burundi	01995-07-2323 July 1995
Cambodia	02004-10-1313 October 2004
Cameroon	01995-12-1313 December 1995
Canada	01995-01-011 January 1995
Cape Verde	02008-07-2323 July 2008
Central African Republic	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Chad	01996-10-1919 October 1996
Chile	01995-01-011 January 1995
People's Republic of China	02001-12-1111 December 2001
Colombia	01995-04-3030 April 1995
Republic of the Congo	01997-03-2727 March 1997
Democratic Republic of the Congo	01997-01-011 January 1997
Costa Rica	01995-01-011 January 1995
Côte d'Ivoire	01995-01-011 January 1995
Croatia	02000-11-3030 November 2000
Cuba	01995-04-2020 April 1995
Cyprus	01995-07-3030 July 1995
Czech Republic	01995-01-011 January 1995
Denmark	01995-01-011 January 1995
Djibouti	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Dominica	01995-01-011 January 1995
Dominican Republic	01995-03-099 March 1995
Ecuador	01996-01-2121 January 1996
Egypt	01995-06-3030 June 1995
El Salvador	01995-05-077 May 1995
Estonia	01999-11-1313 November 1999
European Union	01995-01-011 January 1995
Fiji	01996-01-1414 January 1996
Finland	01995-01-011 January 1995
France	01995-01-011 January 1995
Gabon	01995-01-011 January 1995
Gambia	01996-10-2323 October 1996
Georgia	02000-06-1414 June 2000
Germany	01995-01-011 January 1995
Ghana	01995-01-011 January 1995
Greece	01995-01-011 January 1995
Grenada	01996-02-2222 February 1996
Guatemala	01995-07-2121 July 1995
Guinea	01995-10-2525 October 1995
Guinea-Bissau	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Guyana	01995-01-011 January 1995
Haiti	01996-01-3030 January 1996
Honduras	01995-01-011 January 1995
Hong Kong, China	01995-01-011 January 1995
Hungary	01995-01-011 January 1995
Iceland	01995-01-011 January 1995
India	01995-01-011 January 1995
Indonesia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Ireland	01995-01-011 January 1995
Israel	01995-04-2121 April 1995
Italy	01995-01-011 January 1995
Jamaica	01995-03-099 March 1995
Japan	01995-01-011 January 1995
Jordan	02000-04-1111 April 2000
Kenya	01995-01-011 January 1995
Republic of Korea	01995-01-011 January 1995
Kuwait	01995-01-011 January 1995
Kyrgyzstan	01998-12-2020 December 1998
Latvia	01999-02-1010 February 1999
Lesotho	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Liechtenstein	01995-09-011 September 1995
Lithuania	02001-05-3131 May 2001
Luxembourg	01995-01-011 January 1995
Macau, China	01995-01-011 January 1995
Republic of Macedonia	02003-04-044 April 2003
Madagascar	01995-11-1717 November 1995
Malawi	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Malaysia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Maldives	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Mali	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Malta	01995-01-011 January 1995
Mauritania	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Mauritius	01995-01-011 January 1995
Mexico	01995-01-011 January 1995
Republic of Moldova	02001-07-2626 July 2001
Mongolia	01997-01-2929 January 1997
Montenegro	02011-12-1717 December 2011
Morocco	01995-01-011 January 1995
Mozambique	01995-08-2626 August 1995
Myanmar	01995-01-011 January 1995
Namibia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Nepal	02004-04-2323 April 2004
Netherlands	01995-01-011 January 1995
New Zealand	01995-01-011 January 1995
Nicaragua	01995-09-033 September 1995
Niger	01996-12-1313 December 1996
Nigeria	01995-01-011 January 1995
Norway	01995-01-011 January 1995
Oman	02000-11-099 November 2000
Pakistan	01995-01-011 January 1995
Panama	01997-09-066 September 1997
Papua New Guinea	01996-06-099 June 1996
Paraguay	01995-01-011 January 1995
Peru	01995-01-011 January 1995
Philippines	01995-01-011 January 1995
Poland	01995-07-011 July 1995
Portugal	01995-01-011 January 1995
Qatar	01996-01-1313 January 1996
Romania	01995-01-011 January 1995
Russia	02011-12-1616 December 2011 (Ratification pending)
Rwanda	01996-05-2222 May 1996
Saint Kitts and Nevis	01996-02-2121 February 1996
Saint Lucia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	01995-01-011 January 1995
Samoa	02011-12-1717 December 2011
Saudi Arabia	02005-12-1111 December 2005
Senegal	01995-01-011 January 1995
Sierra Leone	01995-07-2323 July 1995
Singapore	01995-01-011 January 1995
Slovakia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Slovenia	01995-07-3030 July 1995
Solomon Islands	01996-07-2626 July 1996
South Africa	01995-01-011 January 1995
Spain	01995-01-011 January 1995
Sri Lanka	01995-01-011 January 1995
Suriname	01995-01-011 January 1995
Swaziland	01995-01-011 January 1995
Sweden	01995-01-011 January 1995
Switzerland	01995-07-011 July 1995
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu	02002-01-011 January 2002
Tanzania	01995-01-011 January 1995
Thailand	01995-01-011 January 1995
Togo	01995-05-3131 May 1995
Tonga	02007-07-2727 July 2007
Trinidad and Tobago	01995-03-011 March 1995
Tunisia	01995-03-2929 March 1995
Turkey	01995-03-2626 March 1995
Uganda	01995-01-011 January 1995
Ukraine	02008-05-1616 May 2008
United Arab Emirates	01996-04-1010 April 1996
United Kingdom	01995-01-011 January 1995
United States	01995-01-011 January 1995
Uruguay	01995-01-011 January 1995
Vanuatu	02011-10-2626 October 2011
Venezuela	01995-01-011 January 1995
Vietnam	02007-01-1111 January 2007
Zambia	01995-01-011 January 1995
Zimbabwe	01995-03-055 March 1995

See also

• List of countries not in the WTO

References

• Aslund, Anders (21 December 2007). "Russia's WTO Accession". Speeches, Testimony, Papers. Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Politics. http://www.iie.com/publications/papers/paper.cfm?ResearchID=686. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• "Factsheet on U.S. – Russia WTO Bilateral Market Access Agreement". Office of the United States Trade Representative. 10 November 2007. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070427065309/http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/2006/Factsheet_on_US_Russia_WTO_Bilateral_Market_Access_Agreement.html. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• Farah, Paolo (August 2006). "Five Years of China WTO Membership. EU and US Perspectives about China's Compliance with Transparency Commitments and the Transitional Review Mechanism". Legal Issues of Economic Integration 33 (3). http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=916768. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• "How to Become a Member of the WTO". Accession: Explanation. World Trade Organization. http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/acces_e.htm. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• "International Intergovernmental Organizations Granted Observer Status to WTO bodies". World Trade Organization. http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/igo_obs_e.htm. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• Jackson, John H. (2006). "The World Trade Organization: Structure of the Treaty and the Institution". Sovereignty, the WTO and Changing Fundamentals of International Law. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-86007-5. 
• "Members and Observers". Understanding the WTO. World Trade Organization. http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• "Membership, Alliances and Bureaucracy". Understanding the WTO. World Trade Organization. http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org3_e.htm#join. Retrieved 16 March 2007. 
• Michalopoulos, Constantine (2002). "WTO Accession". In Bernard M. Hoekman, Aaditya Mattoo, Philip English. Development, Trade, and the WTO: A Handbook. World Bank Publications. ISBN 0-8213-4997-X. http://publications.worldbank.org/catalog/content-download?revision_id=1526166. 
• "Mapping the Law of WTO Accession (by Steve Charnovitz)". SRRN. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=957651&high=%20charnovitz. Retrieved 1 April 2007.