Ethiopia's effort to joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) is inching closer to reality, according to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI). State Minister Kassahun Gofe, during a briefing to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), highlighted the potential benefits of WTO membership, including expanded global trade opportunities for Ethiopia.

"The road to accession hasn't been smooth," Gofe acknowledged. The Ministry emphasized the briefing's aim of securing parliamentary support to navigate any hurdles that might emerge during the final stages of accession.

Ethiopia's WTO journey began two decades ago with a formal application. The process stalled for a period, but negotiations picked up again in 2020. In February 2020, the HPR, announced its expectation that Ethiopia's accession to the trade organization would be completed in two years.

It is to be recalled that a delegation from Ethiopia met with WTO officials in Geneva in July last year to discuss the resumption of negotiations for Ethiopia's accession to the WTO. The delegation, led by MoTRI Gebremeskel Chala, met with WTO Deputy Director-General Mr. ZHANG Xiangchen and Ms. Rebecca Fisher-Lamb, the Chairperson of the Working Party on the Accession of Ethiopia. The discussions focused on the current status of Ethiopia's accession process and future actions that could be taken. The Ethiopian delegation expressed its commitment to working closely with the Chairperson to expedite the process.

Source: Fana BC

Additional source: 2Merkato Archives