World_Trade_Organization_accession_and_membership

Member states of the World Trade Organization

Member states of the World Trade Organization

Add article description

The original member states of the World Trade Organization are the parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) after ratifying the Uruguay Round Agreements,[1] and the European Communities. They obtained this status at the entry into force on 1 January 1995 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.[2] 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.[3]

An offer of accession is given once consensus is reached among members.[4] 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 were that of Russia, lasting 19 years and 2 months,[5] Vanuatu, lasting 17 years and 1 month,[6] and China, lasting 15 years and 5 months.[7]

As of 2007, WTO member states represented 96.4% of global trade and 96.7% of global GDP.[8] Iran, followed by Algeria, are the economies with the largest GDP and trade outside the WTO, using 2005 data.[9][10]

Accession process

WTO accession progress:[11]
  Draft Working Party Report or Factual Summary adopted
  Goods and/or Services offers submitted
  Working party meetings
  Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime submitted
  Working party established

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.[2] 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 members—consisting of Canada, the European Union, Japan, and the United States—and an applicant's neighboring countries are typically most involved.[12] 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.[13] 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.[3]

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.[2]

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.[14] The documents used in the accession process which are embargoed during the accession process are released once the nation becomes a member.[3]

Members and observers

A world map of WTO participation:
  Members
  Members, dually represented with the European Union
  Observers
  Non-members

As of July 2016, the WTO has 164 members.[15] Of the 128 states party to GATT at the end of 1994, all have since become WTO members except for the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which had dissolved in 1992 and was suspended from participating in GATT at the time.[16][17] Four other states, China, Lebanon, Liberia, and Syria, were parties to GATT but subsequently withdrew from the treaty prior to the establishment of the WTO.[16][18] China and Liberia have since acceded to the WTO. The remaining WTO members acceded after first becoming WTO observers and negotiating membership.

The 27 states of the European Union are dually represented, as the EU is a full member of the organization. Other autonomous entities are eligible for full membership in the WTO provided that they have a separate 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), as did Macao. 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)"[19][20] so that they were not rejected as a result of the One China principle implemented by the People's Republic of China.

The WTO also has 25 observer states,[15] that with the exception of the Holy See must start their 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.[21] The Palestinian Authority submitted a request for WTO observer status in October 2009[22] and again in April 2010.[23]

Afghanistan is the newest member, joining effective 29 July 2016.[24]

Russia was one of the only two large economies outside of the WTO after Saudi Arabia joined in 2005.[25][26] 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 through mediation by Switzerland,[25] leading to Russian membership in 2012. The other is Iran, which is an observer state and begun negotiations in 1996.

A membership offer requires a two-thirds majority vote among existing members,[27][28] while the granting of observer status requires a simple majority.[29][30] Observers have speaking rights after members have spoken, but not the right to submit proposals or voting rights.

List of members and accession dates

The following table lists all current members, their accession date and previous GATT membership, of which there were 128 nations when the transformation was consummated.[15][17][31]

More information Date of accession, GATT membership ...
Notes
  1. The WTO continues to recognize the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.[33]
  2. Member state of the European Union.
  3. Member state of the European Union since 2007.
  4. Member state of the European Union since 2013.
  5. Member state of the European Union since 2004.
  6. Known as Swaziland until 2018.
  7. All member countries of the European Union are also members of the WTO individually.
  8. Official name was Hong Kong until 1997.[34][35]
  9. Official name was Macao until 1999.[36][37]
  10. Known as the Republic of Macedonia until 2019.
  11. Officially uses the designation "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu".
  12. Former Member state of the European Union until withdrawing in 2020. Extended its membership to the Channel Islands on 1 January 2021.[39][40][41]

List of observers

The following table lists all 25 WTO observers.[15][42] Within five years of being granted observer status by the WTO, states are required to begin negotiating their accession to the organization.[15]

On 26 February 2024, at the 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, Comoros and Timor Leste were approved to became members, which will become effective once they complete their domestic ratification procedures.[43]

More information State, Date of membership application ...
Notes
  1. The Holy See is exempted from having to negotiate full WTO membership.[15]
  2. Was a party to GATT prior to withdrawing.[18][16]
  3. Observer status granted 22 July 2020[50]

Neither members nor observers

Applicants

Since 2005, Palestine has been granted speaking rights at each Ministerial Conference of the WTO, under the name Palestinian Authority until 2009 and under the name Palestine from 2011 onward.[52][53][54] Palestine is not listed as an "observer government" like other observer states, and is instead listed under "other observers" in the same category as non-state observers such as the International Trade Centre and World Bank.[55] Palestine applied for observer state status on 2 October 2009 and 12 April 2010.[56][57] As of 2 December 2016, Palestine has expressed an interest in joining the WTO as a full member.[58]
As of 16 November 2015, Kosovo has expressed an interest in joining the WTO as a member.[59]
On 17 November 2019, the African Union applied for observer status.[60]

Other states

The following table lists all UN member states which are neither members nor observers of the WTO.[15]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Legal texts: the WTO agreements at World Trade Organization
  2. [2]
    Membership, Alliances and Bureaucracy, World Trade Organization
  3. [3]
    Accessions Summary, Center for International Development
  4. [4]
    C. Michalopoulos, WTO Accession, 64
  5. [5]
    Russia's entry to WTO ends 19 years of negotiations The Guardian, 22 August 2012
  6. [6]
    Vanuatu:accession status at WTO official website
  7. [7]
    P. Farah, "Five Years of China's WTO Membership", 263–304
  8. [8]
    "Accession in perspective". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  9. [9]
    "ANNEX 1. STATISTICAL SURVEY". World Trade Organization. 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  10. [10]
    Arjomandy, Danial (21 November 2013). "Iranian Membership in the World Trade Organization: An Unclear Future". Iranian Studies. 47 (6): 933–950. doi:10.1080/00210862.2013.859810. S2CID 162297876.
  11. [11]
    "Summary Table of Ongoing Accessions". World Trade Organization. April 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  12. [12]
    C. Michalopoulos, WTO Accession, 62
  13. [13]
    C. Michalopoulos, WTO Accession, 63
  14. [14]
    How to Become a Member of the WTO, World Trade Organization
  15. [15]
    Members and Observers at WTO official website
  16. [16]
    "World Trade Report" (PDF). World Trade Organization. 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  17. [17]
    "The 128 countries that had signed GATT by 1994". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  18. [18]
    "Article XXXI - Withdrawal" (PDF). World Trade Organization. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  19. [19]
    Jackson J. H., Sovereignty, p. 109
  20. [20]
    "Member information - Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) and the WTO". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  21. [21]
    International Intergovernmental Organizations Granted Observer Status to WTO Bodies, World Trade Organization
  22. [22]
    "Palestine - Request for Observer Status". Taiwan WTO Center. 6 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  23. [23]
    "Palestine - Request for Observer Status". Taiwan TWO Center. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  24. [24]
    "Afghanistan to become 164th WTO member on 29 July 2016". World Trade Organization. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  25. [25]
    "Russia becomes WTO member after 18 years of talks". BBC. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  26. [26]
    Heilprin, John (17 December 2011). "Russia gets approval to join the WTO". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  27. [27]
    "WTO | Understanding the WTO - membership, alliances and bureaucracy". www.wto.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  28. [28]
    "WTO | Understanding the WTO - Whose WTO is it anyway?". www.wto.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  29. [29]
    https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/04-wto.pdf
  30. [30]
    https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/L/161.pdf&Open=True
  31. [31]
    "ACCESSIONS: Protocols of accession for new members since 1995, including commitments in goods and services". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  32. [32]
    Status of WTO Legal Instruments (PDF). World Trade Organization. 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  33. [33]
    "Docsonline Maintenance".
  34. [34]
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240120060735/https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/GG/L5999/5986.PDF&Open=True
  35. [35]
    "Wt/L/218". Archived from the original on 20 January 2024.
  36. [36]
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240120060846/https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/GG/L6999/6806.PDF&Open=True
  37. [37]
    "Wt/L/333". Archived from the original on 20 January 2024.
  38. [38]
    Montenegro and Samoa strengthen the WTO WTO media release, 30 April 2012
  39. [39]
    "Channel Islands to become part of UK's WTO territory". BBC News. 18 October 2019.
  40. [40]
    "Guernsey will get WTO membership after Brexit". Bailiwick Express. 19 October 2019.
  41. [41]
    Taylor, Ed (19 October 2019). "Agreement puts Island on 'strongest possible footing' for post-Brexit trade". Jersey Evening Post.
  42. [42]
    "WTO Members and Accession Candidates". World Trade Organization. March 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  43. [43]
    "Ministers approve WTO membership of Comoros and Timor-Leste at MC13". World Trade Organization. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  44. [44]
    "WTO ACCESSIONS 2023 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL*". World Trade Organization. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  45. [45]
    "Members endorse Curaçao's bid for WTO membership". World Trade Organization. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  46. [46]
    "WTO Accession Newsletter No 96" (PDF). World Trade Organization. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  47. [47]
    "Welcome to the Holy See Mission". Holy See Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  48. [48]
    "WT/ACC/28 - WTO Accessions: 2016 Annual Report by the Director-General – Statement by the Director-General". World Trade Organization. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  49. [49]
    "WTO Accession Newsletter" (PDF). World Trade Organization. December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  50. [50]
    "Members endorse Turkmenistan's WTO observer status". World Trade Organization. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  51. [51]
    "Turkmenistan formally applies for WTO membership". World Trade Organization. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  52. [52]
    "Wt/Min(05)/St/170".
  53. [53]
    https://web.archive.org/web/20221118211510/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min09_e/stat_e/pse.doc
  54. [54]
    https://web.archive.org/web/20221118190147/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min11_e/stat_e/pse.doc
  55. [55]
    "WTO | Ministerial conferences - Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference - Statements by Members and observers at the plenary session".
  56. [56]
    "WT/L/770 - PALESTINE – REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS". World Trade Organization. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  57. [57]
    "WT/L/792 - PALESTINE – REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS". World Trade Organization. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  58. [58]
    "WTO ACCESSIONS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL". World Trade Organization. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  59. [59]
    "WTO ACCESSIONS 2015 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL". World Trade Organization. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  60. [60]
    https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=t:/WT/GC/W789.docx&Open=True

Bibliography and Web
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article World_Trade_Organization_accession_and_membership, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.