Timor-Leste Nears WTO Accession at 13th Ministerial Conference in February
Timor-Leste is on track to complete its accession to the World Trade Organization by the 13th Ministerial Conference to be held in February 2024, WTO members said during the Oct. 11 meeting of the Working Party on the country's bid to join the global trade body. At the meeting, Timor-Leste said it was determined to settle the "outstanding technical issues, enact the few outstanding draft laws still required and conclude remaining bilateral negotiations" to wrap up accession by the February ministerial.
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Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, leader of the Timor-Leste delegation, said that progress has been made in "bilateral market access" talks with WTO members, noting that all negotiations have been concluded and that the signings will take place "in the coming days." The country is also prepared to go beyond its expected commitments by joining the Information Technology Agremeent and ITA Expansion Agreement, Lay said.
Despite a recent government change in Dili, legislation needed for accession continues to be adopted, Lay said. Portugal's Rui Macieira, chair of the Working Party, was heartened by the progress in the talks but expressed a worry on timing given the short amount of time to clear the "necessary procedures" by February. The Working Party will hold its final meeting by the end of the year to adopt the draft Accession Package, which then will be sent to MC13 "for formal action," the WTO said.