Geneva:Addis Ababa Ethiopia has renewed its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), emphasizing its dedication to finalizing long-standing accession negotiations. This move aims to deepen the country's integration into the global trading system and expand its access to international markets.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopia's delegation, led by Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Yasmin Wahabrebbi, participated in the Eighth WTO Working Party meeting held in Geneva on November 9–10. Accompanied by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera and other senior officials, the delegation underscored that WTO membership is a top national priority.
The renewed push follows the establishment of a new government in October and aligns with Ethiopia's accelerated economic reforms, which aim to advance an accession process that began in 2003. During the meeting, Minister Yasmin outlined the progress made in aligning Ethiopia's legal and regulatory frameworks with WTO standards, including the review of over 460 legal instruments and the implementation of comprehensive trade-related reforms.
Minister Yasmin also emphasized Ethiopia's readiness to finalize bilateral market access negotiations and urged WTO members to adopt a flexible and development-sensitive approach that considers the country's economic conditions and development priorities. WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang and member states acknowledged Ethiopia's reform progress, expressing support for including the country's market of over 130 million people in the multilateral trading system.
The two-day meeting aims to address outstanding multilateral issues, accelerate negotiations, and establish a clearer path toward concluding Ethiopia's accession process. For Ethiopia, joining the WTO represents a strategic step toward enhancing export competitiveness, attracting investment, expanding market opportunities, and improving participation in international trade.
Additionally, WTO membership is expected to bolster Ethiopia's regional economic integration efforts, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as the country seeks to develop a more competitive and outward-oriented economy. Minister Yasmin called on WTO members to match Ethiopia's political commitment and reform efforts with a pragmatic and constructive negotiating approach, emphasizing the importance of achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.
As negotiations advance into a critical phase, Ethiopia aims to convert over two decades of accession efforts and ongoing economic reforms into full membership in the global trading system.
