Ukraine Moves Closer To WTO Membership

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

28 January 2008

After 14 years of accession negotiations, the WTO Working Party on the Accession of Ukraine on Friday announced that it had successfully adopted Ukraine's ‘accession package’.

This package consists of a Working Party report, market access schedules for goods and services, a draft General Council decision, and a draft Protocol of Accession.

The Chair of the Working Party, Ambassador Mario Matus from Chile paid homage to the Ukrainian delegation, which he said remained fully committed to completing accession throughout the negotiations. He observed that the accession was long and arduous, and required difficult policy decisions from Ukraine.

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy stated that the negotiations had not been simple, and revealed that Ukraine had been obliged to overcome many complicated obstacles. He stated that Ukraine's membership will make trade ties closer and economically beneficial for all.

WTO members agreed that Ukraine's accession would strengthen the multilateral trading system, and expressed appreciation for the great efforts accomplished by Ukraine to finalise the negotiations.

The ‘accession package’ will be put forward to the General Council for consideration at a meeting on 5 February 2008. Following approval of the General Council, Ukraine will have to ratify the deal by 4 July, 2008. Ukraine will become a member 30 days after this ratification takes place.

Ukraine started WTO accession negotiations in 1993.

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